General: Walnut Family (Junglandaceae). Pecan is a native, medium to large sized deciduous tree ranging from 100-140 feet. The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, ten to twenty inches long, eleven to seventeen leaflets that are four to eight inches long (Harrar & Harrar 1962). The flowers are unisexual, both sexes are borne in separate clusters on the same tree. The fruit is thin-shelled nuts; four winged from base to apex, borne in clusters of three to twelve (Ibid.). A ridge is formed where the two halves of the outer fruit come together. The fruit is dark brown in color and covered with yellow scales. The husk is thin and brittle. The husk often persists on the branch into the winter after dropping the nut. The nut is thin shelled with a reddish-brown color and pointed at both ends. The bark is grayish brown or light brown and is flat ridged and shallowly furrowed.

Distribution: Pecan is native from Iowa to Indiana to Alabama, Texas and Mexico (Dirr 1990). This tree follows the river basins very closely, principally along the Mississippi and its tributaries, the Colorado River in Texas, and along some of its tributaries in Mexico. For current distribution, please consult the Plant profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.