Black Walnut (American Walnut, Eastern Black Walnut)
Juglans nigra · Juglandaceae (Walnut family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Pinnately compound, deciduous leaf typically featuring 11 to 23 leaflets
Shape
Lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate leaflets with tapered, acuminate tips and asymmetric rounded bases
Margin
Serrate (sharply toothed edges along the leaflets)
Arrangement
Alternate arrangement of compound leaves along the stem, with leaflets arranged oppositely or alternately along the central rachis
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent midrib and secondary veins branching outwards toward the leaflet margins
Key Features
Pinnately compound leaves usually lacking a terminal leaflet, dark brown to black grooved bark, chambers inside the pith of the twigs, and large round nuts with a solid husk
Description
Juglans nigra is a large, majestic deciduous tree known for its dark, deeply furrowed bark, large compound leaves, and valuable timber.
Habitat
Found in deep, rich, moist soils of bottomlands and lower slopes in mixed deciduous forests, requiring full sun exposure
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, spanning from southern Ontario through the central and eastern United States down to Texas and Georgia