How Do You Identify A Pecan Tree?
The pecan tree is a member of the hickory family and an important tree because of the nuts it produces. Native Americans used these nuts in their diet, and when European explorers arrived, they too became fond of the pecan. You may identify a pecan tree in a variety of ways, including by its leaves, by the nuts, by the bark, and by its habitat. Look for compound leaves that can be as long as 20 inches. A compound leaf consists of a number of leaflets growing from a single stem. In the case of the pecan tree, there can be nine to 17 narrow leaflets with serrated edges. The leaflets have pointed, slightly curved ends. Pecans are deciduous, which means the leaves fall off before winter. Estimate the size of the tree. Pecans can grow as tall as 140 feet. The trunk typically is thick; some pecans grow to six feet in diameter. Check the color and texture of the tree’s bark. Young pecans have smooth bark. As the tree ages, the bark turns light brown; some trees have a grayish tint. The bark o
