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ForestExplorer
Welcome to ForestExplorer, an enriching project led by dedicated students and faculty at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). Our mission is to unlock the mysteries not only of the plant kingdom found along the hiking trails of AUM’s forest. With a focus on education and appreciation for biodiversity, our journey extends beyond plant identification to encompass valuable insights into use of plants by indigenous people, ongoing research projects within the forest and the historical background that shapes this unique ecosystem.
This project is supported by the Warhawk SEEDS student chapter, a grant from NFWF (to Tall Timbers).
Plant Identification Information
Common Name: Pecan Tree
Did you know?
Pecan is the only major tree nut that grows naturally in North America. Originating in central and eastern North America and the river valleys of Mexico, pecans were widely used by many Native American tribes in the U.S. and Mexico as a major food source during autumn. The name “pecan” is a Native American word of Algonquin origin that was used to describe “all nuts requiring a stone to crack.”
Pecan roots do not have root hairs, which, in other plants, function to give the roots more surface area, allowing them to obtain more nutrients. In pecan, beneficial fungi called ectomycorrhizae form a symbiosis with the plant roots and promote nutrient uptake. Every couple of years, in autumn, all the pecan trees in a grove will produce a lot of seeds. These so-called masts may also be due to a belowground network of mycorrhizal fungi that allows communication among all pecan trees.
Identification Clues
The pecan tree can grow up to 20-40 meters tall and 23 meters wide.
Typically, the individual leaflets are around 5-18 centimeters long and 2.5- 5 centimeters wide
The whole leaf is around 45 centimeters long. The leaves are a yellow-green color when they mature and have an alternate arrangement.
A key feature of these trees is their infamous dark brown fruit: the pecan. The pecan is typically 3-3.5 centimeters.
Taxonomy
Pecans belong to the family of Juglandaceae which includes hickories and walnuts.
Distribution
The pecan tree is typically very tolerant to high temperatures and is often grown in places such as farms, neighborhoods, and parks. They can be seen in southern states such as Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas.
References
This information sheet was written with contributions from Jordan Colacicco and Claudia Stein.
