''Juglans microcarpa'', known also as the little walnut, Texas walnut, Texas black walnut or little black walnut (as it belongs to the "black walnuts" section ''Juglans'' sect. ''Rhysocaryon''), is a large shrub or small tree (10–30 ft tall) which grows wild along streams and ravines in Texas, New Mexico,

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

, and Kansas, and the northernmost states of Mexico. It produces nuts with a width of 1/2—3/4 in. The pinnately compound leaves bear 7—25 untoothed to finely-toothed leaflets, each 1/4—1/2 in wide. It is found at elevations ranging from 700 ft to 6700 ft. Two varieties are recognized: ''J. microcarpa'' var. ''microcarpa'' and ''J. microcarpa'' var. ''stewartii''. Where the range of ''J. microcarpa'' overlaps with '' J. major'', the two species interbreed, producing populations with intermediate characteristics. This phenomenon has also been found where ''J. microcarpa'' trees grows near '' J. nigra trees. ''Juglans'' (literally "Jupiter's acorn") is the Latin name of the walnut. ''Microcarpa'' means "having small fruit". Though very small, the seeds contained within the nuts are edible.

References and external links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q291675 Edible nuts and seeds microcarpa Trees of the North-Central United States Trees of Mexico