Edible tree - novice Season - present all year. Flowers: early summer. Leaves: spring to autumn. Fruits: autumn Common names Walnut, English walnut, common walnut, Persian walnut, Carpathian walnut, Mediera walnut
Scientific name meaning: TJuglans is the Latin for walnut trees, derived from Jove (Jupiter) and Glans (Acorn-shaped). Regia is also Latin and means regal, royal, kingly or queenly
Habitat  A native of south east Europe and Asia, walnut was introduced to the UK by the Romans. It can be found in woodland, in hedgerows, on wasteground and on roadsides. It is often found in the grounds of country houses and old farm houses. |
Overall structure  Walnut can reach 35m. The crown is very broad and it tends to have a short trunk. |
Leaves  The bright-green leaves are pinnately compound with 2 to 8 pairs of oval leaflets and and oval terminal leaflet. The edges of the leaflets are smooth. When crushed, walnut leaves smell like furniture polish. The leaves have a yellow-staining juice when crushed. |
Trunk  Starting off smooth and olive-brown in colour, the bark of walnut forms deep fissures (ridges and valleys) as it ages and becomes a light grey. The trunk can reach up to 2m in diameter. |
Flowers  Walnut has male and female flowers appearing in late spring to early summer. The male flowers are green-yellow catkins. The females flowers, pictured, are small, in groups of 2 to 5 with feathery stigmas and no petals. |
Fruits  The fruits are in clusters of 2 to 5, green and egg-shaped. Inside is a wrinkled seed. As the fruit ripens, a hard shell forms around the seed/nut. The husk blackens when the nut is ripe. When crushed or damaged, the fruit husk smells like furniture polish. The husk has a yellow-staining liquid when damaged. |
Possible lookalikes Could be confused with the black walnut. However, this has darker bark and 7 to 9 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are also thinner and have a pointed tip. However, the fruit of the black walnut is also edible. |
Use as a food The unripe fruit can be sliced and pickled. This must be done before the shell starts to form. The ripe seed can be eaten raw or cooked. The sap from the tree can be consumed and is sweet. The leaves have been used to make infusions (tea) Use in herbal medicine and medicine Walnut has been used to treat kidney and bladder stones, respiratory disorders, inflammation, skin disorders, water retention, diarrhoea, parasites, lethargy, pain, vertigo and cancer
If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner.
Hazards The flesh of the fruit and leaves will stain skin yellow-brown
Other uses Walnut wood is highly-prized for its grain and colour. Oils, furniture polish, dyes, paints, herbicides and insect repellents are made from different parts of the tree Importance to other species Provides a food source for mammals
Always stay safe when foraging. You need to be 100% sure of your identification, 100% sure that your foraged item is edible, and 100% sure that you are not allergic to it (it is good practice to always try a small amount of any new food you are consuming). If in doubt, leave it out!
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