12. Juglans cinerea x J. ailantifolia, Burtternut x Heartnut Walnut

 

 (Juglans cinerea x J. ailantifolia) Butternut x Heartnut Walnut  bark

Butternut x Heartnut Walnut leaflet and odd pinnate leaves

 

12. Butternut x Heartnut Walnut, Juglans cinerea x J. ailantifolia 

Artist’s Note:

Burbank’s hybrid cross of two delicious walnuts—the Eastern white walnut Juglans cinerea and the Japanese walnut J. ailantifolia—resulted in nothing at all in this tree at LBH&G. Although a beautiful and stately shade tree, standing to the left of the main entrance, it does not bear drupes. In this hybrid, it seems the cycle of blooms for male and female flowers is “off” and fertilization does not occur. It could be that this was another experiment for creating lumber, as walnut is a highly desired wood for furniture and other uses. Perhaps the intent was to create a garden ornamental tree free of falling fruit. As an artist, I was attracted to its deeply grooved gray bark and chose to draw its exquisite convoluted texture.

 

 

Vulgo: Butternut x Heartnut Walnut cross

 

Name: Juglans cinerea x J. ailantifolia

 

Family: Juglandaceae

Habit: Tree

Height: 60 ft (18 M)

Native to: Hybrid

 

Leaf type: Imparipinnate

 

Shape: Lanceolate

 

Tip: Acute

 

Margin: Smooth

 

Venation: Pinnate

 

Surface: Smooth 

 

Leaflet size: 5 in (12 cm) Leaf size: 13 in (33 cm)

 

Arrangement: Opposite

Pen and ink: Amber R Turner © 2020