Black Walnut (Eastern Black Walnut)
Juglans nigra · Juglandaceae (Walnut family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Pinnately compound, deciduous
Shape
Elliptical to ovate-lanceolate leaflets with an acuminate tip and rounded, often somewhat asymmetrical base
Margin
Serrate (finely toothed)
Arrangement
Alternate, pinnately compound leaves featuring 15 to 23 leaflets (often missing the terminal leaflet)
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent, raised central midrib and clearly visible secondary lateral veins forming a net-like reticulate pattern
Key Features
Alternate pinnately compound leaves usually lacking a terminal leaflet, distinctive dark furrowed bark with diamond-shaped ridges, chambered pith inside twigs, and large round nuts with a non-splitting husk
Description
The Black Walnut is a large, majestic deciduous tree known for its dark, furrowed bark, large compound leaves, and highly prized dark brown heartwood. In late summer, it produces large round nuts enclosed in a solid green husk that turns blackish as it matures on the ground.
Habitat
Found primarily in rich, deep, moist, and well-drained soils of bottomlands and mixed hardwood forests, thriving in full sun
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, ranging from southern Ontario west to southeastern South Dakota, south to central Texas, and east to northern Florida