{"id":37269,"date":"2022-02-14T13:36:15","date_gmt":"2022-02-14T13:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/?p=37269"},"modified":"2025-04-04T12:15:58","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T11:15:58","slug":"walnut-juglans-regia-identification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/02\/14\/walnut-juglans-regia-identification\/","title":{"rendered":"Walnut (Juglans regia) Identification"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><strong>Walnut \/ All year round \/ Edible<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-37269 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/02\/14\/walnut-juglans-regia-identification\/walnut-shot-of-the-leaves-and-small-fruits\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-leaves-and-small-fruits-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-leaves-and-small-fruits-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-leaves-and-small-fruits-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/02\/14\/walnut-juglans-regia-identification\/walnut-unripe-nuts-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-unripe-nuts-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-unripe-nuts-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-unripe-nuts-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-unripe-nuts-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-unripe-nuts-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/02\/14\/walnut-juglans-regia-identification\/walnut-ripe-nut-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-ripe-nut-min-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-ripe-nut-min-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-ripe-nut-min-450x450.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-ripe-nut-min-100x100.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-ripe-nut-min-50x50.jpeg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/02\/14\/walnut-juglans-regia-identification\/walnut-shot-of-the-flowers-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-flowers-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-flowers-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-flowers-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-flowers-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-flowers-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/02\/14\/walnut-juglans-regia-identification\/walnut-shot-of-the-bark-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-bark-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-bark-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-bark-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-bark-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-bark-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/02\/14\/walnut-juglans-regia-identification\/walnut-mature-tree-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-mature-tree-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-mature-tree-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-mature-tree-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-mature-tree-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-mature-tree-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>A deciduous, broadleaf tree, it was introduced to the UK by the Romans.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Common Names\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Walnut, English Walnut, Persian Walnut, Common Walnut<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Botanical Name<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Juglans regia<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Scientific Classification<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Kingdom<\/strong> \u2013 Plantae<\/p>\n<p><strong>Order<\/strong> \u2013 Fagales<\/p>\n<p><strong>Family<\/strong> \u2013 Juglandaceae<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Physical Characteristics for Walnut<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2><strong>Leaves<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The leaves are shiny and pinnate, with 5\u20139 paired oval leaflets and one terminal leaflet at the end. The leaves overall can be up to 40cm long,\u00a0 range from 10-30cm in length and they smell of furnish polish when they are crushed.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-37270\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-leaves-and-small-fruits-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-leaves-and-small-fruits-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-leaves-and-small-fruits-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-leaves-and-small-fruits.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Bark<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The bark is smooth and olive-brown when young, developing fissures and fading to silver-grey with age. It is thin when the tree is young, but it gradually grows thicker with age. As the tree matures the bark thickens into grey-brown flaky scales.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-122389\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-bark-min-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-bark-min-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-bark-min-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-bark-min.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Flowers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The male flowers are drooping yellow-green catkins, around 5\u201310 cm long. The female flowers appear in clusters of 2\u20135, it is these that will become the fruit in Autumn.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-122388\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-flowers-min-300x229.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-flowers-min-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-flowers-min-150x115.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-shot-of-the-flowers-min.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Fruits<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The fruits remind me a little of conkers but without the spikes. They are green and fleshy when their young, oval and have small white spots on the flesh. Inside this husk is the nut that we are more familiar with. When the fruits first appear in June the nut is soft but after a few weeks they will get harder and darker in colour.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-37269 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/02\/14\/walnut-juglans-regia-identification\/walnut-unripe-nuts-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-unripe-nuts-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-unripe-nuts-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-unripe-nuts-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-unripe-nuts-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-unripe-nuts-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/02\/14\/walnut-juglans-regia-identification\/walnut-ripe-nut-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-ripe-nut-min-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-ripe-nut-min-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-ripe-nut-min-450x450.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-ripe-nut-min-100x100.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Walnut-ripe-nut-min-50x50.jpeg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Habitat<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s quite often found planted in parks and formal gardens but it has naturalised in some areas in the South. It prefers fertile, alkaline soil.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Known Hazards<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The nuts, if not stored correctly, can develop a fungi called Aspergillus, this produces aflatoxins which are known to be carcinogenic. To put it into context the same can happen with peanuts and corn.<\/p>\n<p>Also be aware of the juice, it\u2019s used as dye for fabrics and wood and will stain your hands and anything else it touches!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Could be Confused with<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is another imported species, it\u2019s mostly grown for its timber and it\u2019s less common, its nuts can also be eaten. The Black Walnut has more leaflets which are toothed and the bark is darker in colour.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Edible Uses<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The green fruits are collected in summer and typically used in pickles, candied or infused in alcohol or syrups.<\/p>\n<p>For some recipes you are advised to \u2018leech\u2019 them before hand in water for at least a few hours, this is to remove some of the tannins that are very bitter.<\/p>\n<p>The ripe, brown nuts are ready in autumn as the soft flesh rots and breaks away. Break the shell open and inside will be the brain like nut we know and love.<\/p>\n<p>These can be used in lots of different ways, they work in sweet and savoury dishes.<\/p>\n<p>The leaves can be dried and used for teas, they have a sweet, aromatic flavour and are said to be good for digestion.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Notes on Herbal Uses<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In older times when the \u2018Doctrine of signatures\u2019 was popular they were thought to be good for brain health as they resemble a human brain. Modern research has found that they contain chemicals that can expand blood vessels, possibly improving circulation and the way the heart works. They have been shown to improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of developing dementia.<\/p>\n<p>In herbal the Walnut is used for lowering cholesterol, as a blood purifying agent, to treat digestive tract inflammation and blood poisoning.<\/p>\n<p>Some people apply the Walnut hull directly to the skin for skin diseases, skin infections, and eyelid swelling. It is also used in hair dye and in sunless tanning products.<\/p>\n<p>The leaf is applied to the skin to treat conditions such as acne, eczema, ulcers, and infections.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Extra notes from the Foragers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Walnut tree produces chemicals in its root systems that inhibit the growth of other species. It\u2019s a phenomenon called \u2018allelopathy\u2019 quite a few species use it to stop other plants out competing them.<\/p>\n<p>The botanical name Juglans regia, means the &#8216;royal nut of Jupiter&#8217;.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>References:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Juglans_regia\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Juglans_regia<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/about-cancer\/causes-prevention\/risk\/substances\/aflatoxins#:~:text=Aflatoxins%20are%20a%20family%20of,humid%20regions%20of%20the%20world\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/about-cancer\/causes-prevention\/risk\/substances\/aflatoxins#:~:text=Aflatoxins%20are%20a%20family%20of,humid%20regions%20of%20the%20world<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dyeing-crafts.co.uk\/how-to-dye\/dye-with-walnut\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">more on dying<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbcgoodfood.com\/recipes\/collection\/walnut-recipes\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Recipes from BBC goodfood<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7071526\/#:~:text=Substantial%20evidence%20from%20animal%20and,for%20the%20development%20of%20dementia\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7071526\/#:~:text=Substantial%20evidence%20from%20animal%20and,for%20the%20development%20of%20dementia<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Walnut \/ All year round \/ Edible A deciduous, broadleaf tree, it was introduced to the UK by the Romans. Common Names\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Walnut, English Walnut, Persian Walnut, Common Walnut Botanical Name Juglans regia Scientific Classification Kingdom \u2013 Plantae Order \u2013 Fagales Family \u2013 Juglandaceae Physical Characteristics for Walnut Leaves The&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":37274,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[101,1778,1780,85,86],"tags":[239,152,2783,1147,1146,238,1142],"class_list":["post-37269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-plant-identification","category-autumn","category-edible","category-foraging","category-plants","tag-autumn","tag-edible","tag-edible-nuts","tag-juglandaceae","tag-juglans-regia","tag-summer","tag-walnut"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37269"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37269\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":123032,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37269\/revisions\/123032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}