ABSTRACT
This chapter provides information on uses, folk medicine, chemistry, germplasm, distribution, ecology, cultivation, harvesting, yields, energy, and biotic factors of heartnuts. Heartnut is grown primarily for the kernels of the nuts, used in confectioneries and pastries. It has a cordate or cordate-ovoid, rather depressed shell, with relatively thin shell, is nearly smooth with a shallow groove on each side, and has better shelling quality. Propagation by grafting, methods being the same as for butternut and black walnut. Siebold grafts easily on its own seedlings and on butternut. It also grafts easily on black walnut, but does not outgrow the stock. Fruits are borne in long racemes and in good locations, trees produce prolifically. Nuts fall to ground in late summer and early fall, and should be harvested by picking up the nuts as soon as they fall, to discourage infestation by maggots. All walnuts are oilseeds, producing good timber, but their value is greater for ends other than energetic ends.
