Juglans regia L.
Fam. Juglandaceae
Etymology
Juglans is a Latin term coined in honor of Jupiter: "Jovis glans" that is the "Jupiter acorn" since among the ancient Romans the walnut was the tree consecrated to the king of the gods. The adjective "regia" which means "regal" reveals that the tree was introduced into the West by the kings of Persia.
Description
The walnut tree is a tall tree from 10 to 20 m, with thick, expanded and roundish foliage. It has an erect, straight trunk, with a basal diameter up to 1-2m, covered by a smooth gray-whitish bark in the first years, darker than that of the adult trunk, longitudinally slotted.
Leaves alternate, imparipinnate, with 5-7 elliptic leaflets and entire margin, almost sessile, dark green above, lighter below, slightly velvety due to the presence of tufts of hairs on the insertion of secondary veins on the main one.
See also:
- walnut vomica
- cola nut
- walnut oil
- nut calories
FRUIT: the fruit of the walnut is a drupe, composed of a fleshy and odorous outer shell (the husk), a woody and ovoid internal core divided into two valves, containing the seed formed by 2 edible cotyledons, folded, irregularly lobed, cerebriform, called kernels . The two cotyledons are sunken in four compartments of the shell that are incompletely distinct from a false lignified and resistant septum. The nut seed has an excellent taste, the more delicate the fresher it is, being rich in excellent quality oil, but which tends to go rancid in a short time. They mature in autumn; already in September, however, the shell has reached a definitive solidity.
Areal
The walnut is believed to originate from central and south-western Asia, from the temperate-warm regions of Asia Minor, subsequently naturalized in Europe, in the rest of Asia and in central-southern America. In Italy it is widespread throughout the territory up to 1200m of altitude. In Italy, cultivation is important especially in Campania.Culture
Walnut vegeta on deep soil, from moderately dry to humid, medium loose and well ventilated, rather rich in nutrients, with good fraction of humus; it can also vegetate on slightly acid, but preferably basic, soils. Exposure in full sun, but does not cancel half-shade. Walnut should not be associated with other species due to the secretion by its roots of toxic substances. The substances that pervade the dense network of roots, as well as leaves and fruits, are in fact unwelcome to other plants, but very useful to man.
DRUGS: The walnut drug is made up of leaves and husks. The leaves are harvested in the months of May-June, before total development, detaching them without the stem. The husk is harvested from August to September when fully ripe. The drug must be dried quickly in a cool, well-ventilated area to avoid early blackening of the parts.
The leaves and the husk are rich in tannins, vitamin C, citric acid, malic, essential oils, juglone, caffeic acid, quercetin.
uses
In cosmetics : A fine oil from the cosmetic-soap industry is extracted from the maceration of the walnut husk. In the husk there are large quantities of juglone which is antiseptic and keratinizing, that is, it favors the renewal of skin cells. It can be used as a tanning agent as it is able to stimulate the production of melanin. It also has a quantity of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins which makes it a sort of natural filter against sun rays, comparable to a 2-3 protection factor, therefore suitable for already tanned skins. The decoction of leaves is used to darken the hair and counteract its fall.
In phytotherapy, astringent, tonic, antiseptic and healing properties are traditionally recognized in walnut. It has bitter-tonic, digestive, decongestant and intestinal astringent properties, beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery. Good results have been obtained in counteracting intestinal parasites due mainly to Taenia solium. It has also been used to cure, albeit with questionable results, lymphoglandular inflammations of tubercular origin. It is useful for dermatoses, eczemas, chilblains, ocular inflammations, in some disorders of the genital sphere: leucorrhoea in women and orchitis in humans. It promotes diuresis, stimulates pancreatic and hepatic function and is therefore useful for reducing the sense of heaviness. The extract of the leaves was also used in the past in the treatment of diabetes, the nut in fact also has hypoglycemic action.
In dietetics it is used mainly as fruit (kernels are eaten) and in the liqueur industry to produce the popular "nocino". Walnuts are a highly energetic food because they contain high amounts of lipids, most of which are polyunsaturated. In particular, the walnut is quite rich in alpha-linolenic acid. This type of fat is attributed the property of decreasing bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides.
Moreover, being rich in antioxidants, walnuts can help reduce oxidative stress and counteract skin and cellular aging.
Even the proteins contained in it hide therapeutic properties. In fact they are particularly rich in an amino acid, arginine which is transformed by the cells of the vessel wall into nitroxide, a substance capable of preventing and countering the phenomena of arteriosclerosis.
They are also rich in mineral salts (copper, zinc, iron and phosphorus), B vitamins and vitamin E.
The panels formed by the residues of the pressed kernels are destined to feed the livestock.
In organic farming it is used as a repellent plant
OTHER USES: the fatty oil obtained from the walnut is used as a lubricant and given its high drying coefficient, from the paint industry.
Walnut wood is also highly sought after for the production of furniture and floors thanks to its easy workability and long life.
