Juglans olanchana / Juglans pyriformis - Black cedar
Family:
Native to:
Habitat:
Juglandaceae
Central America.
Mountains at altitudes, banks of rivers or streams. 400-1600 meters above sea level. 45 meters tall.
Ecological value:
Rapid growth. Suitable for reforestation systems. Wind pollinated. There are 21 known species in this genus, most in the Americas. Full sun. Most Juglans species are drought resilient. Juglans spp are a source of food for birds and mammals.
Material uses:
Juglans spp have moderately heavy wood, dark brown in color and is easy to work with. The heartwood of J. olanchana is deeper than that of J. nigra, and is used for furniture, cabinetwork, interiors and veneers. The shell of this species is a use to extract tannin for dying leather.
Edible uses:
Seeds (walnuts) are edible.
Medicinal use:
No record on this specific species, but Juglans spp have been used to treat rheumatism, fevers, skin disorders, diabetes and hemorrhoids.
Other details:
Classified as endangered. The two most commercially cultivated Juglans species are J. nigra for it’s timber and J. regia for both timber and nuts. Veneers reported to be slow drying.
Research:
Senna Lau/Christine Facella
Sources:
“Useful Tropical Plants.” n.d. Tropical.theferns.info. Accessed November 12, 2023. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Juglans%20olanchana.
Habtemariam, Solomon. 2019. “Chapter 25 - Other Common and Exotic Foods with Growing Importance as Antidiabetic Agents.” Edited by Solomon Habtemariam. ScienceDirect. Academic Press. January 1, 2019. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780081029220000250.
Image sources: treesftf. Fruit image is of J. nigra.