125. The walnut family (Juglandaceae). Examples: walnut (Fig. 27), butternut (Fig. 28), pecan (Fig. 29), hickory (Fig. 30), and black walnut (Fig. 246).

Formulas of Juglans, Carya, and Juglandaceae are given on pages 414, 415.

In general appearance the inflorescences of the walnut family resemble those of the beech and the birch families, but there is a curious adherence between the bracts, bractlets, and perianth leaves, unlike anything we have seen. Those which belong to each flower are all more or less united to form what at first sight might be mistaken for perianth alone.

The fruit is mostly a drupaceous nut recalling the almond, but with the tough fleshy part dehiscing into four valves and differing also in having the epigynous torus as a component part.

The walnut family may be distinguished as consisting of trees with scented, pinnately compound, exstipulate leaves; and monoecious inflorescences, the staminate amentaceous, the pistillate in heads; each pistil of two carpels; and the fruit a dehiscent drupe with a nut-like stone.

Part 126. The Walnut Order

126. The walnut order (Juglandales), contains only the family from which it derives its name. It is distinguished from the other orders with monoecious inflorescences, staminate aments and pistillate heads, by having the perianth leaves or the epigynous torus adherent to the bractlets and bract of each, and the ovary with but one cavity and one ovule.

The formula of Juglandales is given on pages 414, 415.