Pecan
Carya illinoensis 
Pecan is a favorite nut tree of Missourians. Typically a southern species, pecan once grew only in the southeastern part of the state. It is thought that Native Americans cultivated this tree farther north and helped spread it. Pecans with large, thin-shelled nuts are now grown in commercial orchards.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Height
- 90 ft
- Spread
- 90 ft
- Leaves
- alternate, compound, 12" - 20" long with 9-17 leaflets; each leaflet 2" - 7" long, sickle-shaped, edges finely toothed, dark yellow green
- Flowers
- male flowers in catkins, female flowers in spikes at the end of branches
- Fruit
- oblong nut, 1" -2 l/2" long, covered with a thin 4-part husk
- Bark
- reddish-brown and deeply furrowed; becoming scaly or plate-like on old trees
- Associated species
- green ash, sycamore, pin oak, sweetgum, cottonwood
- Ideal site conditions
- moist soil, full sun
- Value to man
- food, wood products
- Value to wildlife
- food, cover, dens
- Growth Rate
- slow
- Range
