Olancho walnut, Central American walnut
Juglans olanchana

Family: Juglandaceae

What it is like

Juglans olanchana is a deciduous Tree growing to 45 m (147ft) by 35 m (114ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 45

Where it is found

Mountain sides, river bottoms, along water courses, cafetales, at elevations from 500 - 1,500 metres in Guatemala.

Central America - Costa Rica to Mexico.

Conservation Status: Status: Endangered C2a

Countries/locations it is found in

Belize, Central America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, South America

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Seed - raw or cooked. The shells are 34 - 45mm in diameter and 32 - 42mm long.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

The husk of the fruit is used as a source of tannins. The wood is used for making fancy furniture. We do not have any more information for this species, but the general description for the wood of the tropical members of this genus is as follows: The heartwood is chocolate-brown and generally darker than the North American black walnut (Juglans nigra), sometimes with a purplish cast; it is sharply demarcated from the whitish sapwood. The texture is rather coarse; the grain is straight to irregular; luster is high; odour and taste are mild but distinctive. The wood dries very slowly, wet zones persist, and severe honeycombing and collapse may occur in stock thicker than 10cm x 10cm. The wood works well, cutting cleanly with hand and machine tools and taking an excellent finish. It also peels and slices readily but the veneers are also reported to dry slowly. It is used for decorative veneers, furniture, cabinet work, interior finish, and other applications similar to the North American black walnut.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Protein-oil: (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Protein-oil: (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

A tree mainly found at medium elevations in the tropics, most commonly between 400 - 1,600 metres, though there is one report of a specimen collected near sea level in Nicaragua. It grows in areas of good rainfall.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Cedro negro (Spanish for Black Cedar due to its close appearance to West Indian cedar) or nogal (Spanish for walnut).

Synonyms

Juglans guatemalensis W.E.Manning