common walnut

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• common-walnut
• walnut-tree
• English walnut
• Persian walnut
• Walnut
• Common Walnut
• Carpathian walnut
• Madeira walnut

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Juglans regia var. monophylla
• Juglans regia f. monophylla
• Juglans regia f. praematuriens
• Juglans salicifolia
• Juglans fruticosa
• Juglans asplenifolia
• Juglans regia var. kamaonia
• Juglans frutescens
• Juglans regia var. sinensis
• Juglans arguta
• Juglans regia f. pendula
• Juglans regia var. depressa
• Juglans regia f. fruticosa
• Juglans regia var. oblonga
• Juglans regia subsp. turcomanica
• Juglans regia var. tenuissima
• Juglans regia subsp. fallax
• Juglans regia var. tenuifolia
• Juglans regia heterophylla
• Juglans regia var. longifolia
• Juglans regia f. heterophylla
• Juglans regia var. fragilis
• Juglans regia lusus heterophylla
• Juglans regia var. maxima
• Juglans regia lusus laciniata
• Juglans regia var. serotina
• Juglans regia laciniata
• Juglans regia var. angulosa
• Juglans regia f. laciniata
• Juglans regia var. racemosa
• Juglans regia var. filicifolia
• Juglans regia asplenifolia
• Juglans regia pendula
• Juglans duclouxiana
• Juglans fallax
• Juglans fertilis
• Juglans orientis
• Juglans longirostris
• Juglans regia var. laciniata
• Juglans quercifolia
• Juglans regia subsp. sinensis
• Juglans praematuriens
• Juglans kamaonia
• Juglans sinensis
• Juglans regia var. corcyrensis
• Juglans regia var. beloudschistana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fagales, it is classified under the family Juglandaceae. It is further identified by the genus Juglans, specifically as the species Juglans regia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence is noted in Denmark and the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. It can also be found further north within the borders of Norway. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is documented in Middle Europe. Specifically, its range extends into the country of Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Juglans regia is characterized by its preference for specific montane environments, typically thriving within forest ecosystems and mountainous terrains. This species occupies a distinct altitudinal niche, with its distribution spanning a significant elevational range that begins at approximately 1200 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 3300 m AMSL. This ability to inhabit varied mountain habitats allows it to integrate into complex forest structures where it can access the necessary climatic and soil conditions found across these diverse elevations.

Elevational range max:

3300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1200 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, mountains

Life history

The life history of Juglans regia is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its buds high above the ground on woody branches, a life form strategy that allows it to dominate forest canopies. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its leaves annually in response to seasonal changes, which serves as an adaptation to manage water loss and survive periods of dormancy. Throughout its development, the plant functions as a phanerophyte, utilizing its structural height and robust woody architecture to thrive in its natural habitat over a long lifespan.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Juglans regia is characterized by its growth form as a large, woody tree. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting rather than a climber or liana. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant size variation, with a minimum height of 10 m, a mean height of 16.5 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 30 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

16.5 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Juglans regia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. As a non-carnivorous species, its nutritional requirements are met through soil uptake rather than prey capture. The plant's foliar morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 45 cm, while leaf widths fluctuate between 4 cm and 5 cm, contributing to a mean leaf width of 8 cm. These leaves typically present an elliptic form, maintaining a mean leaf size of approximately 39.097 cm². The leaf structure is further defined by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 146 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and resource investment strategy. Additionally, the structural integrity of the plant is supported by its stem, which possesses a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 678 mg/cm³.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

45 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf size mean:

39.097 cm²

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

146 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

678 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Juglans regia is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period typically begins in May and concludes in June, featuring green-colored flowers. The pollination syndrome is classified as abiotic, specifically relying on the wind to facilitate the transfer of pollen. This species does not undergo self-fertilization, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. The resulting fruit is categorized as a drupe and is indehiscent, meaning it does not naturally split open at maturity. The fruit typically measures an average of 4.3 cm in length and 4 cm in width. Regarding the seeds, they exhibit a mean mass of approximately 8.57 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 6.711 g to a maximum of 14.2857 g. Dispersal of the plant is achieved through both zoochorous and anthropochorous syndromes, utilizing animals and human intervention to spread its progeny.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length mean:

4.3 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

4 cm

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

14.2857 g

Seed mass mean:

8.5735128825 g

Seed mass min:

6.711 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Juglans regia has 3 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, fruit.

Leaf

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceutical biology
4. Natural product communications
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Seed

1. Malaria journal
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Fruit

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Chemicals

Juglans regia has 164 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, polyphenols, quercetin, juglone, ellagic acid.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Pharmacognosy reviews
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Journal of fish diseases

polyphenols

1. Food chemistry
2. Teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, and mutagenesis
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5. Current pharmaceutical design

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Pharmaceutical biology
5. Journal of fish diseases

juglone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Journal of fish diseases
4. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

ellagic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular diversity
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

kaempferol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of fish diseases

linoleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Genome biology

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of fish diseases

CATECHIN

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmaceutical biology

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Juglans regia has 707 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmacognosy reviews
4. Pharmaceutical biology
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmacognosy reviews
3. Frontiers in microbiology
4. Natural product research
5. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Natural product research
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of medicinal food
3. Pharmacognosy reviews
4. Natural product research
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one
3. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer
3. Teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, and mutagenesis

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews
3. Food chemistry

Antihypertensive

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

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Juglans regia has 71 reported investigations on conditions identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, anorexia, antidiabetic.

Cancer

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)
3. Current pharmaceutical design
4. Journal of integrative medicine

Diabetes mellitus

1. Advances in experimental medicine and biology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of integrative medicine

Inflammation

1. Pharmaceutics
2. Current pharmaceutical design
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anorexia

1. Current drug discovery technologies
2. Journal of integrative medicine

Antidiabetic

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Natural product research

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of integrative medicine

Eczema

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of integrative medicine

Sinusitis

1. Current pharmaceutical design
2. Journal of integrative medicine

Apo-b

1. Food science & nutrition

Ascaridia galli

1. Veterinary research communications

Preparations

Juglans regia has 22 reported preparations identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, 70% acetone extract, Dendasa, Derum, Methanolic extracts.

Extracts

1. Pharmaceutics
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer
4. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

70% acetone extract

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Dendasa

1. Oral surgery, oral medicine, and oral pathology

Derum

1. Oral surgery, oral medicine, and oral pathology

Methanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extracts

1. Mycoses

Aqueous-methanolic extract (1:1; v/v)

1. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Bark

1. Fitoterapia

Bark powder

1. Teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, and mutagenesis

Crude ethanolic extract (cee)

1. Veterinary research communications