# Husk > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Husk > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Husk.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husk > Source revision: 1347241600 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Outer shell or coating of a seed}} {{Other uses}} {{Refimprove | date = July 2017 }} [[File:Involucre d'un noisetier de Bysance.jpg|right|thumb|Husk of [''Corylus colurna'' (Turkish Hazel)](/source/Corylus_colurna), containing 7 nuts]] In [botany](/source/botany), a '''husk''' (or '''hull''') is the outer shell or coating of a [seed](/source/seed). In the United States, the term husk often refers to the leafy outer covering of an [ear](/source/Ear_(botany)) of [maize](/source/maize) (corn) as it grows on the plant. Literally, a husk or hull includes the protective outer covering of a seed, [fruit](/source/fruit), or [vegetable](/source/vegetable). It can also refer to the [exuvia](/source/exuvia) of insects or other small animals left behind after [moulting](/source/ecdysis). The term ''husk'' dates to c.14, it is probably based on [Middle Dutch](/source/Middle_Dutch) word ''huusken'' meaning 'little house', which is derived from ''hūs'' meaning house.{{cite web |title=husk |url=https://www.thefreedictionary.com/husk |website=The Free Dictionary |access-date=20 October 2023}} In [cooking](/source/cooking), '''hull''' can also refer to other waste parts of fruits and vegetables, notably the cap or [sepal](/source/sepal) of a [strawberry](/source/strawberry).{{cite web |last1=Splawn |first1=Meghan |title=Here's How to Hull a Strawberry |url=https://www.thekitchn.com/heres-how-to-hull-a-strawberry-23045871 |website=Kitchn |access-date=18 October 2023 |language=en |date=1 July 2020}} Grains such as [wheat](/source/wheat) and [barley](/source/barley) have husks. The grains are the entire seed of a plant. The seed of a grain (which the grain industry calls a "[kernel](/source/Seed)") is made up of three key edible parts – the [bran](/source/bran), the [germ](/source/wheat_germ), and the [endosperm](/source/endosperm) – which are all protected by an inedible husk that protects the kernel from damage by sunlight, pests, water and disease.{{cite web |title=What is a Whole Grain? {{!}} The Whole Grains Council |url=https://wholegrainscouncil.org/what-whole-grain |website=wholegrainscouncil.org |access-date=20 October 2023}} ==Tree husks== In [Hazel trees](/source/Corylus), the nut is surrounded by a short leafy husk (which is technically an [involucre](/source/Bract)). This leaf-like husk encloses most of the nut. It starts off green and will fade to brown at the end of the season. Usually, the ripe nut falls out of (or can be separated from) the husk some 7–8 months after [pollination](/source/pollination) has occurred.{{cite web |title=Hazel; Hazelnuts, Filberts, & Cobnuts. |url=https://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/flora-and-fauna/hazel-hazelnuts-filberts-cobnuts/ |access-date=15 October 2023}} In some places, both shells and the husks of walnuts (''[Juglans regia](/source/Juglans_regia)'' {{Au|L.}}) which are produced as waste crops during the fruit harvesting and processing,{{cite journal |last1=Martinez |first1=M.L. |last2=Labuckas |first2=D.O. |last3=Lamarque |first3=A.L. |last4=Maestri |first4=D.M. |title=Walnut (''Juglans regia'' L.): Genetic resources, chemistry, by-products. |journal=J. Sci. Food Agric. |date=2010 |volume=90 |issue=12 |pages=1959–1967 |doi=10.1002/jsfa.4059|pmid=20586084 |bibcode=2010JSFA...90.1959M |hdl=11336/14988 |hdl-access=free }} are sometimes burned as fuel for heating purposes.{{cite journal |last1=Jahanban-Esfahlan |first1=Ali |last2=Jahanban-Esfahlan |first2=Rana |last3=Tabibiazar |first3=Mahnaz |last4=Roufegarinejad |first4=Leila |last5=Amarowicz |first5=Ryszard |title=Recent advances in the use of walnut (''Juglans regia'' L.) shell as a valuable plant-based bio-sorbent for the removal of hazardous materials |journal=RSC Adv. |date=2020 |volume=10 |issue=12 |pages=7026–7047 |doi=10.1039/c9ra10084a|pmid=35493920 |pmc=9049835 |bibcode=2020RSCAd..10.7026J }} In 2019, it has been demonstrated that the walnut green husk could be valued as a source of different natural bio-active compounds with excellent [antioxidant](/source/antioxidant) and [antimicrobial](/source/antimicrobial) properties.{{cite journal |last1=Jahanban-Esfahlan |first1=Ali |last2=Ostadrahimi |first2=Alireza |last3=Tabibiazar |first3=Mahnaz |last4=Amarowicz |first4=Ryszard |title=A Comprehensive Review on the Chemical Constituents and Functional Uses of Walnut (''Juglans'' spp.) Husk |journal=Int J Mol Sci |date=August 2019 |volume=20 |issue=16 |page=3920 |doi=10.3390/ijms20163920 |pmid=31409014 |pmc=6719079 |bibcode=2019IJMSc..20.3920J |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Fernández-Agulló |first1=A. |last2=Pereira |first2=E. |last3=Freire |first3=M.S. |last4=Valentão |first4=P. |last5=Andrade |first5=P.B. |last6=González-Álvarez |first6=J. |last7=Pereira |first7=J.A. |title=Influence of solvent on the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of walnut (''Juglans regia'' L.) green husk extracts. |journal=Ind. Crops Prod. |date=2013 |volume=42 |pages=126–132 |doi=10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.05.021 |bibcode=2013IndCP..42..126F }} As well as cosmetic uses.{{cite journal |last1=Beiki |first1=T. |last2=Najafpour |first2=G.D. |last3=Hosseini |first3=M. |title=Evaluation of antimicrobial and dyeing properties of walnut (''Juglans regia'' L.) green husk extract for cosmetics. |journal=Color. Technol. |date=2018 |volume=134 |pages=71–81 |doi=10.1111/cote.12322|doi-access=free }} An organic compound Naphthalenone, (derivative of [Naphthalene](/source/Naphthalene)) is found in green walnut husks of ''[Juglans mandshurica](/source/Juglans_mandshurica)'' {{au|Maxim.}} for various uses.{{cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=G. |last2=Pi |first2=X.-M. |last3=Yu |first3=C.-Y. |title=A new naphthalenone isolated from the green walnut husks of ''Juglans mandshurica'' Maxim. |journal=Nat. Prod. Res. |date=2015 |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=174–179 |doi=10.1080/14786419.2014.971789|pmid=25338229 |s2cid=1757099 }} ''[Juglans nigra](/source/Juglans_nigra)'', black walnut, husks have antioxidant potential.{{cite journal |last1=Wenzel |first1=J. |last2=Samaniego |first2=C.S. |last3=Wang |first3=L. |last4=Burrows |first4=L. |last5=Tucker |first5=E. |last6=Dwarshuis |first6=N. |last7=Ammerman |first7=M. |last8=Ammerman |first8=Z. |last9=Ammerman |first9=A. |title=Antioxidant potential of ''Juglans nigra'', black walnut, husks extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide with an ethanol modifier. |journal=Food Science & Nutrition |date=2017 |volume=5 |issue=223–232 |pages=223–232 |doi=10.1002/fsn3.385|pmid=28265357 |pmc=5332255 }} Confusingly, Walnut husks are also called ''hulls'' as well.{{cite journal |last1=Noshirvani |first1=N. |last2=Fasihi |first2=H. |last3=Moradipayam |first3=A. |title=Study on the antioxidant effects of extract and powder of green walnut hulls on the oxidation of sunflower oil. |journal=Iran. J. Nutr. Sci. Food Technol. |date=2015 |volume=10 |pages=79–90}}{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=X.S. |last2=Li |first2=Z.Z. |last3=Tao |first3=S.R. |title=Removal of chromium (VI) from aqueous solution using walnut hull. |journal=J. Environ. Manag. |date=2009 |volume=90 |issue=2 |pages=721–729 |doi=10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.01.011|pmid=18343014 |bibcode=2009JEnvM..90..721W }} ''[Rhagoletis juglandis](/source/Rhagoletis_juglandis)'', also known as the 'walnut husk fly' is a common pest of walnuts. The larvae are small and live under the surface of the husk of the walnut. They cause damage to the fruit and husks which then become difficult to remove. The husk fly also infests ripe [apricot](/source/apricot) and [peach fruits](/source/Peach), usually if infested walnuts are located within flying distance.{{cite web |last1=Alston |first1=Diane G. |last2=Murray |first2=Marion |last3=Barnhill |first3=James |title=Walnut Husk Fly |url=https://extension.usu.edu/pests/research/walnut-husk-fly |website=extension.usu.edu |publisher=Utah State University |access-date=20 October 2023 |language=en |date=January 2015}} Some fruit shell and hull derived [bio-adsorbents](/source/bio-adsorbents) have also been used for [wastewater treatment](/source/wastewater_treatment) purposes. For example, the [almond](/source/almond) hull and shell have been used to remove metals such as [Pb](/source/Lead), [Cd](/source/Cadmium), and [Co](/source/Cobalt) in various quantities.{{cite journal |last1=Reza Mehrasbi |first1=Mohammad |last2=Farahmandkia |first2=Zohreh |last3=Taghibeigloo |first3=Bahareh |last4=Taromi |first4=Azra |title=Adsorption of Lead and Cadmium from Aqueous Solution by Using Almond Shells |journal=Water, Air, and Soil Pollution |date=2009 |volume=199 |issue=1–4 |pages=343–351|doi=10.1007/s11270-008-9883-9 |bibcode=2009WASP..199..343M |s2cid=96361261 }} Iranian almond (''[Prunus amygdalus](/source/Prunus_amygdalus)'' {{Au|L.}}) hulls have antioxidant and anti-radical properties.{{cite journal |last1=Jahanban Isfahlan |first1=A. |last2=Mahmoodzadeh |first2=A. |last3=Hasanzadeh |first3=A. |last4=Heidari |first4=R. |last5=Jamei |first5=R. |title=Antioxidant and antiradical activities of phenolic extracts from Iranian almond (''[Prunus amygdalus](/source/Prunus_amygdalus)'' L.) hulls and shells. |journal=Turk. J. Biol. |date=2010 |volume=34 |pages=165–173}} The [coconut](/source/coconut) husk and shells can be used for fuel and are a source of [charcoal](/source/charcoal).{{cite web|title=Coconut Shell Lump Charcoal|url=http://www.supremecarbon.com/coco.htm|publisher=Supreme Carbon Indonesia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229141916/http://www.supremecarbon.com/coco.htm|archive-date=December 29, 2012|df=mdy-all}} In Thailand, the coconut husk is used as a potting medium to produce healthy forest tree [sapling](/source/sapling)s. A dried half coconut shell with husk can be used to buff floors. It is known as a ''bunot'' in the Philippines and simply a "coconut brush" in [Jamaica](/source/Jamaica). [Coir](/source/Coir), also called '''coconut fibre''', is a [natural fibre](/source/Natural_fiber) extracted from the outer husk of coconut.{{cite web |title=Coco Coir - 7 Things Every Gardener Should Know |url=https://diygardening.co.uk/soils/coco-coir/ |website=DIY Gardening |access-date=20 October 2023}} ==Husking and dehulling== [[Image:E8025-Milyanfan-corn-huskers.jpg|thumb|Corn being husked in the yard of a [Dungan](/source/Dungan_people) farmer in [Kyrgyzstan](/source/Kyrgyzstan)]] Husking of corn is the process of removing its outer layers, leaving only the [cob](/source/Maize) or seed rack of the corn. Dehulling is the process of removing the hulls (or [chaff](/source/chaff)) from [bean](/source/bean)s and other [seed](/source/seed)s. This is sometimes done using a machine known as a [huller](/source/huller). To prepare the seeds to have [oil](/source/oil)s extracted from them, they are cleaned to remove any foreign objects. Next, the seeds have their hulls, or outer coverings, or husk, removed. There are three different types of dehulling systems that can be used to process [soybean](/source/soybean)s: Hot dehulling, warm dehulling and cold dehulling. Hot dehulling is the system offered in areas where beans are processed directly from the field. Warm dehulling is often used by processors who import their soybeans. Cold dehulling is used in plants that have existing drying and conditioning equipment, but need to add dehulling equipment to produce high protein meal. The different dehulling [temperature](/source/temperature) options are for different types of production, beans and preparation equipment.{{fact|date=August 2024}}{{Cite journal |last=Tabil |first=Lope |date=July 6–9, 2003 |title=Conditioning and Dehulling of Pigeon Peas and Mung Beans |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239828199 |journal=The Canadian Society for Engineering in Agricultural, Food and Biological Systems |pages=03–347}} [[File:Africa Food Security 11 (10665081134).jpg|left|thumb|A woman manually dehusking [corn](/source/Maize) in [Malawi](/source/Malawi). People working in [subsistence agricultural](/source/Subsistence_agriculture) settings tend not to have the mechanization of processing practices to reduce the labor. In many societies, this labor falls to family members such as women, who make up the majority of [farmers working in smallholdings.](/source/Smallholding)]] In third-world countries, husking and dehulling is still often done by hand using a large [mortar and pestle](/source/mortar_and_pestle). These are usually made of wood, and operated by one or more people.{{Cite web |title=e-Learning for agriculture and fisheries |url=http://www.e-extension.gov.ph/elearning/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=710 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=e-extension.gov.ph |language=en}} The husk is [biodegradable](/source/biodegradable) and may be [compost](/source/compost)ed.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r17aBwAAQBAJ&q=husk+is+biodegradable+and+composted.&pg=PA395|title=Biomass Utilization|last=Cote|first=Wilfred|date=2013-12-01|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9781475708332|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212184412/https://books.google.com/books?id=r17aBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA395&dq=husk+is+biodegradable+and+composted.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiFpvaV_4vVAhWLllQKHbfkC4sQ6AEILjAC#v=onepage&q=husk%20is%20biodegradable%20and%20composted.&f=false|archive-date=2017-12-12}} ==See also== {{Wiktionary|husk}} {{commonscat|Hulling}} *[Gum (botany)](/source/Gum_(botany)) *[Horsebread](/source/Horsebread), a type of bread in which the chaff is not removed *[Peel](/source/Peel_(fruit)) *[Rice hulls](/source/Rice_hulls) *[Rice pounder](/source/Rice_pounder) *[Threshing](/source/Threshing) *[Winnowing](/source/Winnowing) ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Barley}} {{Wheat}} {{Culinary wrappings}} Category:Plant morphology Category:Cereals Category:By-products [fr:Son (botanique)](/source/fr%3ASon_(botanique)) [ru:Шелуха](/source/ru%3A%D0%A8%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%83%D1%85%D0%B0) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Husk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husk) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husk?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.