Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch

Pecan

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Pecan is a large deciduous tree in the Walnut family (JUGLANDACEAE). It occurs throughout Alabama. Pecan trees can be found around old home sites, along fence rows, in disturbed woodlands, and in floodplain forest. It is one of eleven species of Hickory found in Alabama. There is some debate as to whether Pecan is native to Alabama or introduced. The main range of the species is along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries. Many botanists believe that Pecan is native in portions of the Black Belt region of Alabama, but a recent introduction in most of the rest of the state. Charles Mohr in his account of Pecan in the 1901 Plant Life of Alabama states “Hale County, Gallion. Dallas County, Uniontown. Marengo County, Demopolis. Undoubtedly indigenous”. Early explores of the Southeastern United States found Pecan growing around Native American settlements. Perhaps the Native Americans brought this species from further west and it escaped in the Black Belt area in pre-colonial times. There is evidence that Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia Marshall) was introduced by Native Americans from areas to our west, and some populations of Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria Aiton) outside of the Coastal Plain seem to have been cultivated by Native Americans. We may never know for certain. Even the correct pronunciation for this species is hotly debated. There are more than fourteen widely utilized pronunciations depending on what region of the country you hail from. Among them are pee-can’; pee-con’; puh-con'; puh-coon'; pic-con’; pee’-can; and pic’-cun. Although native Pecans were collected and eaten by Native Americans and early settlers, the commercial growing of Pecans did not start until the 1880’s. It is now a major crop in portions of the Southeast. --A. Diamond

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Native FAC+ (NWPL)

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