Advent Botany 2015 – Day 5: By Jove, its a walnut!

By Rachel Webster

In my humble opinion, the hazelnut is OK, but in my stocking I’ll be sure to find some walnuts. Clearly I’m not the only one to put this as the king of the nuts either, as the botanical name, Juglans regia, translates as ‘royal nut of Jupiter’. One myth has the Roman god Jupiter (also known as Jove) living on walnuts during his time on Earth.

Walnuts have been used medically for centuries. In the ancient herbalist system known as the Doctrine of Signatures, plants with medicinal properties would resemble the part of the body they would be effective at curing. The walnut’s resemblance to a human skull and brain meant that it would be recommended for injuries to the head (for example by treating head wounds with walnut oil).

Walnuts and pears you plant for your heirs.

(Spanish proverb)

A soecimen of black walnut from University of Manchester Herbarium

…. but you don’t need to wait to read the rest of  this blog, just follow the link to Herbologymanchester to see the rest of #AdventBotany Day 5.  Do come back on Sunday for day 6!

For more by this author follow: @Aristolochia

For those interested in US political history; you might like to read the poem by Pat O’Cotter: A Woman, A dog, and A Walnut tree.

Advent Botany 2015 Day 4, Day 6