Juglans nigra L.

Trees , to 40(-50) m. Bark medium to dark gray or brownish, deeply split into narrow rough ridges. Twigs with distal edge of leaf scar notched, usually deeply, not bordered by well-defined band of pubescence; pith light brown. Terminal buds ovoid or subglobose, weakly flattened, 8-10 mm. Leaves 20-60 cm; petiole 6.5-14 cm. Leaflets (9-)15-19(-23), lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, symmetric or weakly falcate, (3-)6-15 × 1.5-5.5 cm, margins serrate, apex acuminate; surfaces abaxially with capitate-glandular hairs, simple or 2-rayed fasciculate hairs, and scales scattered over veins and blade, axils of proximal veins with prominent tufts of fasciculate hairs, adaxially glabrous except for scattered capitate-glandular and fasciculate hairs on midrib; terminal leaflet small or often absent. Staminate catkins 5-10 cm; stamens 17-50 per flower; pollen sacs 0.8-0.9 mm. Fruits 1-2, subglobose to globose, rarely ellipsoid, 3.5-8 cm, warty, with scales and capitate-glandular hairs; nuts subglobose to globose, rarely ellipsoid, 3-4 cm, very deeply longitudinally grooved, surface between grooves coarsely warty. 2 n = 32.

A canopy tree in rich fertile woods and hillsides, growing in deep well-drained soils; at elevations up to 1,000 metres. Plants can form pure stands or be in association with several other hardwood species.

The kernels are used for flavouring. They are used in pastries, confectionary, ice cream, cakes, pies, and muffins. The seeds yiled and oil used to flavour bread, and other foods. The sweet sap can be made into syrup or sugar.

Nuts need cold treatment before planting. Although trees are self fertile, male and female flowering may not overlap. A range of varieties or several trees improve this. Because the tap root is easily damaged it does not transplant easily.