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BLACK WALNUT (Juglans nigra)

Distinguishing characters: By cutting a twig lengthwise, it will be seen that its pith is divided into little chambers. The bud is dark gray and satiny. The bark is dark brown and deeply ridged and the fruit is the familiar round walnut.
Black Walnut Stem Chambered Pith
Form and size: A tall tree with a spreading crown composed of stout branches. In the open it grows very symmetrically.
The Walnut Tree
Range: Eastern United States.
Black Walnut Range
Soil and location: The black walnut prefers a deep, rich, fertile soil and requires a great deal of light.

Enemies: The tree is a favorite of many caterpillars.

Value for planting: It forms a beautiful spreading tree on open ground, but is not planted to any extent because it is hard to transplant. It grows slowly unless the soil is very deep and rich, develops its leaves late in the spring and sheds them early in the fall and produces its fruit in great profusion.

Commercial value: The wood is heavy, strong, of chocolate brown color and capable of taking a fine polish. It is used for cabinet making and interior finish of houses. The older the tree, usually, the better the wood, and the consumption of the species in the past has been so heavy that it is becoming rare. The European varieties which are frequently planted in America as substitutes for the native species yield better nuts, but the American species produces better wood.
Walnut Bark
Other characters: The fruit is a large round nut about two inches in diameter, covered with a smooth husk which at first is dull green in color and later turns brown. The husk does not separate into sections. The kernel is edible and produces an oil of commercial value.
The Delicious Walnut
The leaves are compound and alternate with 15 to 23 leaflets to each.
Compound, Alternate Leaves

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the lesson.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Recite aloud the vocabulary words and their definitions.
  • Learn the concepts.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

This lesson involves the black walnut tree, which has compound leaves and grows the edible and familiar round walnut. Black walnut stems are distinctive for their chambered pith. The scientific (Latinized) name of the black walnut is Juglans nigra.

Vocabulary

Pith: The soft, spongy substance in the center of the stems of many plants and trees that stores and transports nutrients throughout the plant.
Chamber: A small walled-off enclosure or cell.
Chambered Pith: Pith separated into distinct chambers or cells.

Concepts

PITH

  1. The pith is the soft, spongy substance within stems that is used to store and transport nutrients.
  2. The pith is located in the very center of the tree stem or list. Find the pith on the diagram.
  3. The pith is in the center of the trunk cross section.
  4. The black walnut tree has a special chambered pith.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

  • After reading or listening to the lesson, narrate the lesson aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Study the Lesson Pictures

  • Study the lesson pictures and describe how they relate to the lesson.

Activity 3: Take a Nature Walk

  • Bring a small sketchbook and a specimen collection bag and embark on a nature walk.
  • Seek out a walnut tree or another tree of your choice.
  • Study and sketch the appearance and habitat of the tree.
  • Collect one or more leaves and nuts from the tree as specimens.
  • Use the gathered specimens and sketches to create the field book entry.

Activity 4: Complete a Field Book Entry   

After your nature walk, complete pages 17-18 in 'Science Field Book for Fourth Grade.'

Review

Question 1

Is the fruit of the black walnut tree edible?
1 / 3

Answer 1

Yes, the fruit or nut of the black walnut tree is edible.
1 / 3

Question 2

Does the black walnut tree have simple leaves or compound leaves?
2 / 3

Answer 2

The black walnut tree has simple leaves.
2 / 3

Question 3

What is special about the black walnut pith in its stems?
3 / 3

Answer 3

The pith of the stems of the black walnut is divided into chambers or cells.
3 / 3

  1. Is the fruit of the black walnut tree edible? Yes, the fruit or nut of the black walnut tree is edible.
  2. Does the black walnut tree have simple leaves or compound leaves? The black walnut tree has simple leaves.
  3. What is special about the black walnut pith in its stems? The pith of the stems of the black walnut is divided into chambers or cells.

References

  1. 'Studies of Trees' by Jacob Joshua Levison. gutenberg.org/ebooks/16116. n.p.
  2. 'Pith Diagram - Wood Growth by Coventry Log Homes.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11591972. n.p.

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