black walnut

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• American walnut
• black walnut
• eastern black walnut

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Juglans nigra f. oblonga
• Juglans nigra oblonga
• Juglans pitteursii
• Wallia nigra
• Juglans nigra f. laciniata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known as Juglans nigra, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae within the order Fagales. Finally, it resides in the family Juglandaceae under the genus Juglans.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a notable presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range extends through Denmark and Great Britain. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within the borders of Austria and Belgium. Furthermore, its distribution continues through the central territories of Czechia-Slovakia. These specific locations highlight the varied geographical spread of the species throughout these European nations.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Juglans nigra is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons and can live for many decades. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are elevated well above the ground on woody stems, a life form strategy that allows it to dominate forest canopies and withstand seasonal environmental shifts. This phanerophyte classification is consistent across its developmental stages, ensuring that the plant maintains a robust, woody structural framework that supports its long-term survival and reproductive capacity within its ecosystem.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Juglans nigra is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. This species is a self-supporting plant that grows in terrestrial environments and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. It exhibits significant stature, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 15 meters to a maximum of 30 meters, maintaining a mean height of approximately 30.91 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

30.91 m

Plant height min:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Juglans nigra is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common to most temperate deciduous trees that utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. This pathway is optimized for the temperate climates in which the species thrives, allowing for efficient gas exchange and carbohydrate production under moderate light and temperature conditions. Structurally, the plant exhibits specific anatomical properties reflected in its wood density, with a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 641.5 mg/cm³. This density value indicates a robust internal cellular structure, contributing to the mechanical strength and hydraulic efficiency necessary to support its large canopy and facilitate the long-distance transport of water and nutrients through its vascular tissues.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

641.5 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Juglans nigra is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and distinct seed characteristics. The flowering process typically commences in May, marking the start of its reproductive season. Following fertilization, the plant produces seeds that exhibit significant variability in size and weight. The seed mass ranges from a minimum of 2.232 g to a maximum of 22.2 g, with a calculated mean seed mass of approximately 11.55433398 g. To ensure the spread of its offspring, the species utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to aid in the movement and distribution of its seeds across the landscape.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

May

Seed mass max:

22.2 g

Seed mass mean:

11.55433398 g

Seed mass min:

2.232 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Juglans nigra has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Natural product communications

Chemicals

Juglans nigra has 171 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include juglone, Tannin, ellagic acid, (E)-Caryophyllene, 1,2,3-trimethyl-benzene.

juglone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product communications
3. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Tannin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

ellagic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

(E)-Caryophyllene

1. Natural product communications

1,2,3-trimethyl-benzene

1. Dr. Duke

1,2,4-trimethyl-benzene

1. Dr. Duke

1,3-dimethyl-benzene

1. Dr. Duke

1,4-NAPHTHOQUINONE

1. Dr. Duke

1-METHYLNAPHTHALENE

1. Dr. Duke

2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzaldehyde

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Juglans nigra has 706 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihypertensive, Sedative, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Juglans nigra has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include C. parapsilosis, Listeria monocytogenes.

C. parapsilosis

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Listeria monocytogenes

1. Fitoterapia

Preparations

Juglans nigra has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include acetonic extract preparations, methanol extracts.

Acetonic extract preparations

1. Fitoterapia

Methanol extracts

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences