Pecan
Arbor walk #54, TreeKeeper ID #1424
This Missouri native tree is predominantly found in the Mississippi River Valley, and in the American South where it is cultivated as an important commercial nut crop. The name “pecan” is an Algonquian Native American word, describing “nuts requiring a stone to crack.” The female flowers of the Pecan tree take about 8 years to mature and bear fruit. The state tree of Texas, a single pecan tree can live up to 300 years old and produces an average of 70-150 lbs. of pecans a year. Although enjoyed as a snack, pecans are important for wildlife as well; many animals such as birds, deer and squirrels rely on pecans as a food source.
| Common Name | Pecan |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Carya illinoinensis |
| Indigenous Name(s) | Miami: kaanseenseemini; Quapaw: watástottá hi |
| Cultivar/Variety | |
| Commercial Name |
Global Distribution
GPS Coordinates
N/A
Percent Concrete
N/A
Distance to Buildings
| Year | Close Building #1 | Close Building #2 | Close Building #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Hillman Hall, 19.13 m | Goldfarb Hall, 37.56 m | Brown Hall, 45.38 m |
Distance to Other Species
| Year | Close Species #1 | Close Species # 2 | Close Species # 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Bur Oak, 8.63 m | Northern Red Oak, 9.12 m | Elm Hybrid, 9.32 m |
Standard Measurements
| Year | Height (m) | DBH (cm) | Caliper (m) | Crown Diameter N-S (m) | Crown Diameter E-W (m) | Average Crown Diameter (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7.0586 | 13.1 | N/A | 5.2 | 4 | 4.6 |
| 2023 | 9.7 | 25.5 | N/A | 6.65 | 6.61 | 6.63 |
Nests and Pests
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Grey lichen and green algae on trunk bark Trunk had a large open hole with a damaged, cracked area around it |
Leaf Identification
The leaves are pinnately compound and alternately arranged on the stem. There are 7-17 leaflets per leaf, each between 2″ and 8″ long, with the largest leaflets halfway up the leaf.
Twig and Bud Identification
The twig turns from a light green color to a light gray-tan as it matures, with vertical white lenticels (pores) remaining. The terminal bud is covered in fine orange-brown hairs; it is obovate with a acuminate (tapering) tip.
Bark Identification
The bark is gray-brown with flaky scales and slight ridges.
Fruit Identification
The Pecan fruit is ovoid and green when immature, with the fruit dehiscing along the four ridged seams when brown and mature to release a singular hard-shelled nut. Inside this mottled brown shell is the edible pecan familiar to human palates.
Flower Identification
The flowers of the Pecan are dioecious but inconspicuous. The male flowers are hanging green catkins (long, slender clusters of flowers), and the female flowers are also green and located in small clusters near to the branch.
