Juglans cinerea
Specifications
Family
Juglandaceae
Species
Juglans cinerea L.
butternut
white walnut
Description
The sapwood is thin, whitish or brownish, and the heartwood is light brown, sometimes tending towards reddish, which takes on darker hues as it dries. The texture is coarse and the grain straight; the density varies from 0.40 to 0.55. It has medium mechanical strength and poor durability.
Plant morphology
It is a large tree, growing up to 40 m tall. Its deciduous leaves are alternate and odd-pinnate. Plants are monoecious and pollinated by the wind. Male flowers are grouped in spikes with up to 36 stamens. Female flowers are clustered in groups of 2-4. The fruit (the nut) is an indehiscent drupe with a hardened endocarp, containing a single, fatty seed.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Eastern North America: Central and Northeastern United States, Eastern Canada.
Habitat and ecology
It grows on plains, alluvial terraces, riparian zones, and streams in mesophilous forests. This species is often found associated with red oak, tulip tree, basswood, and American maple.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is used for furniture and interior design
Threats and Conservation
Threats
This species is highly susceptible to attack by the fungal pathogen Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum, which causes walnut canker. This disease causes destruction of the cambium and premature death of the tree. The species is also threatened by habitat loss.
Conservation measures
In the USA, harvesting for timber is now more regulated, and the species is listed under the US Endangered Species Act (Mcllwrick et al., 2000). The species is also conserved in at least 137 ex situ collections. There are currently no effective management practices to prevent and protect the walnut from the pathogenic fungus; therefore, further monitoring and studies are needed.
IUCN Red List
IUCN
EN - Endangered - At risk of extinction
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
2018
1975
2050
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
2018
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Medium
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
435
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
34
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
64
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
56
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
8140
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Not durable
Insect resistance
Not resistant
Miscellaneous
Given its state of conservation in nature, the use of this wood should be avoided.