Juglans Regia

Juglans Regia is a huge deciduous tree which belongs to the family of Juglandaceae. It is primarily used for the production of walnut. This plant is native to the stretch of Balkans extending towards the Himalayas and southwest China. A vast stretch of extensive walnut forest is found in Kyrgyzstan.

Juglans Regia Common Names

Juglans Regia is also known as:

  • English Walnut
  • Persian Walnut
  • Common Walnut
  • European Walnut
  • Caucasian Walnut
  • Circassian Walnut

Juglans Regia Description

Juglans Regia grows up to 25 to 35m tall. They have short trunk of about 2m diameter. The bark of the tree is brown and becomes grey as the tree matures. The crown of the tree is relatively larger than its trunk. The pith of the twigs is brown and has air spaces.

Juglans Regia PicturePicture 1 – Juglans Regia

The leaves of the tree are 25 to 40 cm long with alternate arrangement on a particular leaflet. The leaflet at the apex is much larger. The male flower is a dropping catkin whereas the female flowers are clustered together and bears fruit. The fruit has a green slightly rigid, semi fleshy husk enclosing a brown nut.

Juglans Regia Distribution

Juglans Regia originated from the ranges of central Asia, extending towards western china. It is distributed in parts of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Towards the lower ranges of Himalayas, Juglans Regia is cultivated in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, parts of northern India, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Iran. It occurs sporadically in areas of Armenia, eastern Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

During the period of Alexander the Great, he introduced the nut to Macedonia and Greece from Central Asia and Iran. Juglans Regia was transported to the western and north European countries during the Roman Era and by the 17th century, it was introduced in America too by the English Colonist. This is how the nut became widespread across the globe. Nowadays walnut is grown across France, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania in Europe, California, Chile and China. Gradually, it has also spread across southeastern Australia and New Zealand.

Juglans Regia Habitat

Cool Temperate Steppe to wet, Subtropical Thorn to Moist Forest.

Juglans Regia Ecology

Juglans requires a well drained loamy soil with adequate sunlight. The plants should be protected from strong winds. The plant requires an annual precipitation of 3.1 to 14.7dm. Mature trees can tolerate frosty winters but not the juvenile plants. The minimum temperature the plant can sustain is -29 degree Celsius and below that. The annual temperature the plant requires is 7 to 21 degree Celsius. Juglans Regia thrives on neutral and slightly acidic soil with pH of 4.5 to 8.2.

Juglans Regia History

The prehistoric deposits of the Iron Age have shown traces of walnut in Europe. They have also been mentioned in the Old Testament. Walnut was regarded as the symbol of fertility by the Greeks and Romans and that is how the name ‘Juglans’ was derived from. In Latin, ‘Jovis Glans’ means ‘nut of Jupiter’ or ‘the nut of Gods’. During the middle Ages, walnut was considered to ward off evil spirits, witchcrafts and epileptic fits.

Photos of Juglans RegiaPicture 2 – Juglans Regia Photo

Juglans Regia Cultivation

Juglans Regia requires a well drained loamy soil, 2m or more deep and slightly alkaline. The plant requires a sunny position however are cold tolerant. The juvenile plant can be damaged by the frost. The seedlings should be transplanted as soon as possible and protected from the first winter. Roots should not dry out during this process.

Cutting and pruning of the tree should be carried out only when the plant is mature enough else it would weaken the plant. The plant should be watched and watered for at least till they have established.

Juglans Regia Propagation

The seeds shown are sown when it is ripe and should be protected from the rodents. Their germination period is from winter to spring. The seeds should be transplanted to the original plant in early summer and should be protected for a winter or two. They can also be sown in early spring but must be kept in a moist place before it is sown. In such case, however, it would take a while for the seed to germinate.

Juglans Regia Uses

Edible uses:

  • The seed can be eaten raw or used in making cakes, sweets or ice creams. They can also be grounded into a paste and used as a flavoring for certain dishes.
  • The edible oil is extracted from the seed. The oil has a very nutty and pleasant flavor that can be used in cooking or dressing salads.
  • The raw fruit can be soaked in vinegar to make pickles.
  • During spring season, the sap of the tree is tapped for making sugar.
  • The leaves of the plant make an excellent tea.

Medicinal Uses:

Juglans Regia or walnut has been used as a remedy for many disorders since the ancient times.

  • Walnut has anti-inflammatory and astringent property hence used for skin ailments.
  • The leaves are used for treatment of asthma, chronic cough, constipation and dyspepsia.
  • The leaves are used to purify blood.
  • Used in the treatment of strumous sores.
  • It is used in the treatment of diarrhea and anemia.
  • Walnut is also used in the treatment of stone in the urinary track, frequent urination and low back pain.
  • The walnut paste can be applied externally in areas of eczema and dermatitis.
  • Walnut oil is effect in dry skin condition and for treatment of menstrual problems.
  • Extracts of the plant was used in the treatment of cancer.

Other Uses:

  • The husk is used to make yellow dyes.
  • The leaves, mature husks and the catkins are used to make brown dye.
  • Dying oil is extracted from the seed.
  • The seed can be used to polish woods. It protects the wood.
  • The shell of the walnut is used as an anti skid for tyres and used for preparation of activated carbon.
  • The leaves of Juglans Regia are used as insect repellents.
  • The barks of the tree were used traditionally as teeth cleaner.
  • The woods of Juglans Regia are hard and durable and are used for making furniture.

Juglans Regia Toxicity

It is always advised to seek medical assistance before using the plant medically as there might be adverse effect to few individuals.

Juglans Regia Pictures

Here are few of the pictures.

Images of Juglans RegiaPicutre 3 – Juglans Regia Image

Pictures of Juglans RegiaPicutre 4 – Juglans Regia Picutre

Reference:

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Juglans_regia.html#Uses

http://health-from-nature.net/Walnut.html

https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.29063

http://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Juglans+regia

http://abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Jug-r

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juglans_regia

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