Walnut Tree Shadow is Harmful to Humans and Could Increase Pollution
31 July 2009 | Green News | 3 Comments
In this post I want to talk about the positive and negative effects that the walnut tree have on humans, plants and animals around it. I think you all heard about walnut tree. Actually it is called Juglans regia L, is generally spread in the mediterranean and temperate zone, and is part of Juglandaceae family.
The walnut tree may appear in other areas outside the areas specified, but there it could be a little different, with some specific characteristics. The walnut tree appeared in Europe still from Roman times but in America it appeared only in 17 century.
These things were like an introduction but what I really want to present, are few uses and some particularities this walnut tree. From each part of this tree we can make different products: the nut is a fruit used as food, the wood that cover the fruit it is used to manufacture different toys for children, the green cover may be used for different drugs and treatments but also to obtain a black dye. The walnut wood is a valuable material that it is used to produce many components for furniture, doors, tables and more other things.
Now, you need to focus your attention on the following idea! The walnut tree can have harmful effects on humans, plants and animals. Any walnut leaf contain a large amount of iodine and juglona. Because of this, it is not appropriate to spend more time in the walnut tree shadow. In Romania exist a tradition, which says that the walnut tree shadow is not good, not healthy. Also, these substances can affect other plants growing under the walnut tree. Many plants can not grow under this shadow and die.
When a nut falls in the grass can be seen as the grass begins to die around this fruit. So, in my opinion, the walnut tree is a species that should not be cultivated in cities or near to people’s homes because may affect other plants and can also affect human organism. We need plants in urban areas because of the ability to reduce pollution but we should not use the walnut tree because it is a plant that “could increase urban pollution”. What do you think about?
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Interesting angle on the Walnut Tree problem…a little touch of the superstitious, but probably some good advice none-the-less. I certainly wouldn’t eat anything that survived under a walnut tree.
GartenGrl
I am Turkish and we have the same saying in Turkey. “Sitting under the walnut tree makes you heavy”. I was just looking into it whether it is scientifically true or not.
Yes, you’re right! I have learned at our University of Forestry in Romania that Walnut tree shadow can affect lungs and many other of our internal organs. I will write same interesting things on my new blog named “forest-science.com”. Thanks for your comment and come back for new stories.