A
walnut is the
nut of any tree of the genus
Juglans (Family
Juglandaceae), particularly the Persian or English walnut,
Juglans regia. Technically a walnut is the seed of a
drupe or drupaceous nut, and thus not a true
botanical nut. It is used for food after being processed while green for pickled walnuts or after full ripening for its nutmeat. Nutmeat of the eastern black walnut from the
Juglans nigra is less commercially available, as are butternut nutmeats from
Juglans cinerea. The walnut is nutrient-dense with protein and
essential fatty acids.