The pecan tree is a large deciduous tree, growing to 20–40 m (65-130 ft) in height, rarely to 44m; taller trees to 50–55 m have been claimed but not verified. It typically has a spread of 12-23 m with a trunk up to 2 m diameter. A 10-year-old sapling will stand about 5 m tall. The leaves are alternate, 40–70 cm long, and pinnate with 9–17 leaflets, each leaflet 2–11 cm long and 2–7 cm broad. The flowers are wind-pollinated, and monoecious, with staminate and pistillate catkins on the same tree; the male catkins are pendulous, up to 18 cm long; the female catkins are small, with three to six flowers clustered together. 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 in four sections at maturity to release the thin-shelled nut. The pecan nut (Carya illinoensis), like the walnut, belongs to the family Juglandaceae. Names formerly used for the nut are Hicoria pecan and C. illinoinensis. The tree is indigenous to North America where it grows wild in the states along the gulf of Mexico and around the Great Lakes. Some 400-year-old trees still bear nuts.
Pecan-nut trees grow very fast and become very tall unless growth is controlled. It is regarded as one of the biggest fruit / nut crops. The nut has a very high protein content and its nutritional value is one of the highest of all fruit grown in South Africa. The nuts are rich in vitamins, carbohydrates and nut oil. |  |
Development of the Pecan Nut The development of the pecan nut takes place in two stages. The first stage occurs from flowering unitl February. During this period the nut grows in size and the shell hardens from the base of the nut. Up to this stage the kernel portion of the nut is filled with liquid substance (endosperm) only. The second stage of development is from February to May when the nuts ropen. Kernel development takes place during this period. Pecan Nuts in South Africa The first pecan-nut trees were imported into South Africa by one Wilkinson, a Natal nurseryman, towards the end of the last century. F.S. Staniland of Willowfontein, Pietermaritzburg, probably imported the first grafted trees in 1912. From here trees spread mainly to the subtropical parts of the countryand one of the first commercial plantings was made by H.L. Hall and Sons near Nelspruit. Pecan nuts are now produced in many parts of South Africa on a bigger or smaller scale. Initial problems included poor production of seedling trees, unsuitable climatic and soil conditions and trees that took a long time to come into bearing. Pecan Cultivars There are many different pecan cultivars. In the USA cultivars that produce large nuts are classified as "in-shell" cultivars as they are sold unshelled and polished. The cultivars with smaller nuts are classified as "shelling" cultivars, since their nuts are sold for shelling and are supplied to confectioners for baking. In South Africa there is a limited demand for small nuts. The emphasis is on the dual-purpose cultivars that bear large nuts, have a high kernel percentage and are suitable for shelling. Cultivars differ in respect of the percentage kernel in proportion to the total mass of the nut. The kernel is the valuable part of the nut and cultivars with a kernel percentage of at least 50 and more are preferred. Cultivars with a kernel percentage less than 50 should only be considered for planing if they start bearing at an early age, produce high yields and have kernels of top quality. Common South African Cultivars are Wichita, Choctaw, Barton, Elliot, Ukulinga, Shoshoni, Moore, Mohawk, Cherokee, Caspiana, Nellis and Western Schley. Melrose and Pawnee have been newly released. |
