What are the newly introduced and newly discovered variant types of walnut?

  1. Extra-large walnut. The longitudinal diameter of the nut can reach 7~8 cm, the lateral diameter is 5 cm, and a single nut weighs about 36 grams, equivalent to about 3 times that of an ordinary walnut, but the shell is relatively thick, and sometimes the kernel is not plump.

  2. Shell-less walnut. The hard shell of the nut has degenerated into a thin film, which is very easy to tear off by hand, and the kernel yield can reach more than 90%.

  3. Spicate walnut. The female inflorescence is spicate, with 4~30 female flowers. At present, two types have appeared: one has clustered female flowers, appearing in grape-like spikes, so it is called grape-like walnut; the other has female flowers scattered on a longer rachis, also called cluster walnut.

Pictured: walnut

  4. Red-kernel walnut. A rare resource in the walnut-producing area of the Qinling Mountains in China, recorded in the "Chinese Fruit Tree Records - Walnut Volume". The fruit is small, nearly round, the nut weighs 10~13 grams, and the shell is 1~1.2 mm thick. The kernel is plump and full, and easy to extract. The kernel color is bright red, turning a brilliant purplish red after storage, very beautiful.

  5. Black-kernel walnut. Found in southern Hanzhong, Shaanxi, and also among the Ludian bubble walnuts in Yunnan. The kernel is blackish brown or purplish brown, regarded by farmers as a rare treasure.

  6. White water walnut. Distributed in Zuoquan, Shanxi, and Linzhou and Lushi, Henan. The green husk has little tannin, and the nut is a beautiful white.  

  7. Douluo walnut. Only 1 plant exists in Zuitai Village, Kangxian County, Shaanxi. Most are double fruits, or there are two nuts close together inside 1 green fruit; abnormal fruit shapes account for about 30% of the total fruit number, and it is susceptible to frost damage.

  8. Wanglei walnut. Found in Daji Township, Shangxian County, Shaanxi. Five nuts are clustered on one fruit stalk, and those with 5 fruits clustered together reach 1/4; the nut weighs about 10.1 grams, the shell is thin, a few expose the kernel, the kernel yield is 54.4%, and the color is light with a fragrant taste.

  9. Late-opening female flower type. A new variety bred by the Liaoning Institute of Economic Forestry, Hanfeng, has medium to large nuts and continuous high yield, and its female flowers open 25 days late, avoiding the frost period.