CLASSIFICATION (PLANT TAXONOMY)

This information was provided by:  USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1 (http://plants.usda.gov).   

National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Walnuts, of the genus Juglans in the family Juglandaceae, are cherished for their valuable timber and ability to produce delicious flavored kernels.  There are about fifteen different species of Juglans and within these different species, contain many varieties.  Walnuts are indigenous to East Asia, Southeastern Europe, North America and South America. 

The walnut family, produces a medium to large vigorous deciduous hard wood tree, with large compound leaves, bear flowers which are monoecious (on separate male staminate flowers "catkins" and female pistillate flowers on the same tree), and produce a single seed enclosed in a leathery husk.  Of course, each genus of walnut trees has its own distinct characteristics.

After pollination, the female ovary ripens green fruits resembling martini olives.  As it ripens more fully, their green skin and soft pulp wither away. This reveals a hard shelled nut holding a remarkable wrinkled kernel.