Pecan

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Pecan
Pecan orchard Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
Conservation status
Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fagales Family: Juglandaceae Genus: Carya Species: C. illinoinensis
Binomial name
Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K.Koch

The Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is a species of hickory native to southeastern North America, from southern Iowa and Indiana south to Texas and Mississippi. It is a deciduous tree, growing to 25–40 m in height, and can be grown approximately from USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9, provided summers are also hot and humid. Pecan trees may live and bear nuts for more than three hundred years, and are one of the largest species of hickory ^[1]. The Pecan harvest for growers is traditionally around mid October and they grow wild in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana and other southeastern states of the U.S. as well as northeast Mexico.

Ripe pecan nuts on tree

The leaves are alternate, 40–70 cm long, and pinnate with 9–13 (rarely up to 17) leaflets, each leaflet 5–12 cm long and 2–6 cm broad. The flowers are wind-pollinated, and monoecious, with staminate and pistillate catkins on the same tree. The Pecan trees are mostly self incompatible, because most cultivars, being clones derived from wild trees, show incomplete dichogamy. Generally, two or more trees of different cultivars must be present to pollenize each other. The fruit is an oval to oblong nut, 2.6–6 cm long and 1.5–3 cm broad, dark brown with a rough husk 3–4 mm thick, which splits off at maturity to release the thin-shelled nut.

[edit] Cultivation and uses

The nuts of the Pecan are edible, with a rich, buttery flavor. They can be eaten fresh or used in cooking, particularly in sweet desserts but also in some savory dishes. One of the most common desserts with the pecan as a central ingredient is the pecan pie, a traditional southern U.S. recipe. Pecans are also a major ingredient in praline candy, most often associated with New Orleans.

In addition to the pecan nut, the wood of the pecan tree is also used in making furniture, in hardwood flooring, as well as flavoring fuel for smoking meats.

The commercial growing of pecans began in the United States in the 1880's. Today, the U.S. produces between 80% and 95% of the world's pecans, with an annual crop between 300 - 400 million pounds ^[2]. Historically, however, the leading Pecan-producing state in the U.S. has been Georgia, followed by Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, they are also grown in Arizona. Outside the United States, pecans are grown in Australia, Brazil, China, Israel, Mexico, Peru and South Africa.

[edit] Nutrition

Pecans are a good source of protein and also unsaturated fats. Studies have shown that a diet rich in nuts can lower the risk of gallstones in women.^[3] The Antioxidants and plant sterols found in pecans have been shown to reduce high Cholesterol by oxidating the (bad) LDL cholesterol levels.^[4]

[edit] Trivia

• In 1906 Texas Governor James Stephen Hogg made the Pecan tree the state tree of Texas. The story goes that Hogg had a Pecan Tree planted at his grave instead of a traditional headstone, requesting that the nuts be distributed throughout the state to make Texas a "Land of Trees" ^[5].

• The scientific name is commonly misspelled "illinoensis".

• The pronunciation of pecan is a source of friendly dispute among aficionados. Some people say [ˈpiː.kæn] while others say [pə.ˈkɑn]. (See International Phonetic Alphabet.) The word pecan itself is noted as having an origin from the Native American Algonquin tribe, meaning a nut requiring a stone to crack ^[6].

• Also the word has been used locally, (southern) Louisiana, to refer to a person whose actions are stupid, idiotic or crazy (instead of the word 'nut').

[edit] External links

• Flora of North America: Carya illinoinensis
• Carya illinoinensis images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu
• National Center for Home Food Preservation - Home Preservation of Pecans
• USDA Forest Service: Carya illinoensis

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.harrellnut.com/pecanfactsandtips.html
2. ^ http://www.tpga.org/faqs.html
3. ^ http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/80/1/76
4. ^ http://www.llu.edu/news/scope/spr02/newscope2.html
5. ^ http://www.tpga.org/faqs.html
6. ^ http://www.greenvalleypecan.com/history.asp