- Andean Walnut
Taxobox
status = EN | status_system = IUCN2.3
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Fagales
familia =Juglandaceae
genus = "Juglans "
species = "J. neotropica"
binomial = "Juglans neotropica"
binomial_authority = Diels
synonyms = "Juglans andina" Triana & Cortés, "Juglans colombiensis" Dode, "Juglans honorei" Dode"Juglans neotropica" is a species of
plant in theJuglandaceae family. It is found inColombia ,Ecuador , andPeru . It is threatened byhabitat loss . Common names include Colombian Walnut [ [http://trees.stanford.edu/ENCYC/JUGcol.htm Juglans neotropica. COLUMBIAN WALNUT ] ] , Ecuadorian Walnut, Andean Walnut, Nogal, Cedro Negro, Cedro Nogal, and Nogal Bogotano.Growth and Cultivation
It is a slow-growing
tree attaining heights of up to 40 meters, with grooved, red-brownbark and an oval-shapedcanopy . The compoundleaves , typical to all members of "Juglans ", are about 40 cm long, grouped at the ends of thebranches , and have aserrated border.The species prefers loose-textured, fertile
soils , and seems to thrive in somewhat muddy conditions. Neutral to slightlyacidic soils are ideal; the tree will not tolerate calcaerous soils nor very acidic conditions. Andean Walnuts are found between 1600 and 2500 meters ofelevation , in biomes where the average temperature is between 16 and 22°C, and annualprecipitation of between 1 and 3 meters that is distributed evenly throughout the year. The species does particularly well when planted near running water. It is found naturally in a wide variety of Pre-Montane and Montane forests, and most abundantly in cloud forests.Propagation is by
seed ; nuts are scarified with sandpaper, then planted in moist sand for 4 months at a temperature of 2 to 4°C. Natural germination times are poorly studied, but new trees appear to grow where the nuts fall and are buried under leaf litter.The Andean Walnut is
allelopathic , like most walnuts, and its presence will kill some understory plants. It is a common host for Anthuriums and Philodendrons, which appear to be unaffected.Fruit
Edible
fruit is produced in husks that are yellow-green when ripe; collection is either by picking fallen fruits from the ground, or otherwise harvesting from the canopy when the husks show signs of being ripe. The sap of the fruit husk is a strongdye and can stain hands and clothing. The nut inside is within a much harder and more difficult to crack shell than Persian walnuts, but the meat inside is comparable in flavour, perhaps a bit sweeter. "Tocte", the fruit of the Andean walnut, are often sold in the farmer's markets ofEcuador . The process of husk removal often stains the shells of the nuts black.Like all walunts, unripe fruit husks produce a strong yellow dye that does not require
mordant ; ripe fruits produce a strong red to brown dye that does not require a mordant, and if cooked in an iron pot, a strong deep black dye. [ [http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Juglans+nigra Juglans nigra - Plants For A Future database report ] ]Fruits must be soaked in water for 24-48 hours, but not allowed to
ferment , after which the loosened pulp can be manually removed to reveal the walnut inside. There may be as few as 20 or as many as 200 nuts in a kilogram. Optimum storage temperature is 4 to 6°C.Wood
The hard, durable
wood of Andean Walnut is highly prized in cabinetry, flooring, veneers, utensils, and other forms of decoration. In South America, it is referred to as Nogal, and is among the most expensive woods available.ources
* Americas Regional Workshop (Conservation & Sustainable Management of Trees, Costa Rica) 1998. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/32078/all "Juglans neotropica"] . [http://www.iucnredlist.org 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ] Downloaded on
22 August 2007 .
* http://www.rngr.net/Publications/ttsm/Folder.2003-07-11.4726/PDF.2004-03-15.0019/file
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