Nogal de Caracas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nogal de Caracas |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Juglans
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| Species: |
venezuelensis
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The Juglans venezuelensis, also known as the Caracas walnut tree (or nogal de Caracas in Spanish), is a special kind of walnut tree. It only grows in Venezuela. This small tree produces nuts that are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) big.
How This Tree Grows
The Caracas walnut tree is a deciduous tree. This means it loses its leaves every year, just like many trees in autumn. Its leaves usually fall off between November and December. Then, new leaves start to grow back between January and February. The tree begins to flower in late February.
This tree is also monoecious (say: moh-NEE-shus). This means that each tree has both male and female flowers. The male flowers hang down like little chains called catkins. The female flowers stand up straight. Both types of flowers are small and greenish.
The fruits of the Caracas walnut tree are called drupes. These are fruits with a fleshy outside and a hard pit inside, like a peach or a cherry. The outside of the fruit is yellow and feels a bit fuzzy. Each fruit is about 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide and contains a walnut that is about 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) big. On average, one fruit weighs about 150 grams (5.3 ounces).
Where It Lives
The Juglans venezuelensis tree is endemic to Venezuela. This means it naturally grows only in this country and nowhere else in the world. Specifically, it lives on Cerro El Avila, a mountain in the Cordillera de la Costa mountain range.
Right now, there are only two known groups of these wild trees left. Each group has fewer than 100 trees. These groups are found in areas like the Canoes Summit and Hoyo de Avila National Park.
Protecting This Tree
Because there are so few Caracas walnut trees left, people are working hard to protect them. Since 2004, young trees grown in special nurseries have been planted. These young trees are moved to areas that need new trees, like the Camino de los Españoles, El Vigia, and Guayabitos within the National Park. They are also planted in nearby places like Altos de Pipe. These efforts help to reforest the areas and give the Juglans venezuelensis a better chance to survive and grow.
See also
In Spanish: Juglans venezuelensis para niños
