Juglans regia (Walnut)

Common Name: Walnut

Juglans regia, more commonly known as the Walnut, was first introduced by the Romans who, like much of our native wildlife, valued its nuts. It is native from south-east Europe to south-west China but has been widely planted throughout the UK and has naturalised in lowland Britain (helped along by hoarding squirrels), in secondary woodland and hedgerows; and on river banks, field-borders and roadsides. It prefers well-drained, fertile and alkaline loam and is found in large gardens and parks.

It is a deciduous broadleaf tree which can grow to 35m in height. They typically have a short trunk and broad crown, though can be narrower if grown in a woodland situation. The bark is smooth and olive-brown when young, developing fissures and fading to silver-grey with age. Twigs are stout, green and curving.

The leaves are shiny and pinnate (feather-like), with 5–9 paired oval leaflets and one 'terminal' leaflet at the end. Male flowers are drooping yellow-green catkins, 5–10 cm long, and the female flowers appear in clusters of 2–5.

Pollinated by wind, female flowers develop into a fruit with a green, fleshy outside husk and a brown, wrinkled walnut inside. Could be confused with the Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), but has fewer leaflets than black walnut and its leaflets are more oval in shape and have smooth, untoothed edges.

https://www.uknature.co.uk is a website dedicated to showing the immense diversity of UK nature and wildlife. Our vast range of habitats, from lowland arable to snow covered mountains, from storm-ravaged coastlines to peaceful inland freshwater lakes and rivers, from dry, sandy heaths to deciduous and coniferous forests, all these habitats contribute to the abundance of UK nature. We have wild birds in huge numbers either residing or visiting our shores (597 recorded species as at July 2013) and we must also not forget the humble back garden with its grass lawns, flower beds filled with nectar rich flowers, shrubs and trees, all designed to attract huge numbers of insects such as bees, moths, butterflies and hoverflies; and finally the small ponds which provide safe havens for frogs, toads, newts and even slow worms and grass snakes. www.uknature.co.uk is the showcase for my personal passion, photographing uknature in all its glory. I sincerely hope you all enjoy the fruits of my labours.