Walnut
ERASMUS + FUNDED BY EUROPEAN UNION
Group number 13 (Alejandro Cabello,Gaizka Sanchez & Paula Lopez)
Walnut
Vulgar name:
Spanish: Nogal
Basque: Intxaurrondoa
Italian: Noce
Greek: καρυδιά
Description
Juglans regia is a large, decidous tree attaining heights of 25–35 m (80 to 120 ft), and a trunk up to 2 m (6 ft) diameter, commonly with a short trunk and broad crown, though taller and narrower in dense forest competition. It is a light-demanding species, requiring full sun to grow well.
The bark is smooth, olive-brown when young and silvery-grey on older branches, and features scattered broad fissures with a rougher texture. Like all walnuts, the pith of the twigs contains air spaces; this chambered pith is brownish in color. The leaves are alternately arranged, 25–40 cm (10 to 16 in) long, odd-pinnate with 5–9 leaflets, paired alternately with one terminal leaflet. The largest leaflets are the three at the apex, 10–18 cm (4 to 7 in) long and 6–8 cm (2 to 3 in) broad; the basal pair of leaflets are much smaller, 5–8 cm (2 to 3 in) long, with the margins of the leaflets entire. The male flowers are in drooping catkins 5–10 cm (2 to 4 in) long, and the female flowers are terminal, in clusters of two to five, ripening in the autumn into a fruit with a green, semifleshy husk and a brown, corrugated nut. The whole fruit, including the husk, falls in autumn; the seed is large, with a relatively thin shell, and edible, with a rich flavour.
Use of a Walnut
Walnuts have been found in prehistoric deposits in Europe dating from the Iron Age and are mentioned in Old Testament references to King Solomon's nut garden. Many legends have been associated with the walnut; the ancient Greeks and Romans regarded them as symbols of fertility. In the Middle Ages, walnuts were thought to ward off witchcraft, the evil eye, and epileptic fits because of the belief that evil spirits lurked in the walnut branches.
Historically, walnut oil was prescribed for colic, to soothe intestines, and to relieve diarrhea and hemorrhoids. Further folk uses include treating rickets, frostbite, and glandular disturbances, and as an astringent, tonic restorative, and disinfectant. Blisters, ulcers, itchy scalp/dandruff, sunburn, and perspiration are some of the conditions treated with various walnut preparations.
Symbolism
Nuts in general can represent toughness due to their hard outer shell. Seeds in general can represent fecundity and fruitfulness as per their nature- but walnuts in particular are a potent symbol of masculinity. While often the nut is thought of as endurence to hardship (seeing a nut broken can be a collapse of defenses) breaking open a nut can also be a good omen - it can represent breaking through the hardships - if the nut is healthy or tasty inside, than take it as a hint that your labors will pay off, and that the struggle was worth it - If the inside is rotten or bitter, than this may symbolize fear and possibility of plans falling through, or hard work not paying off.
Walnut's three most potent meanings are of sexuality and toughness - and even though all nuts can be reminiscent of manhood, walnuts in particular are 'the manliest nuts'. Well, in vegitation, anyway.