Information about pecan trees Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch

Pecans are part of the Walnut family of Juglandacae.
They are large, deciduous trees that can grow over 100 feet tall.

"There is still apparently some confusion concerning the most appropriate scientific name for pecan: Carya illinoensis, or C. illinoinensis. As one who has been involved in the debate, I would like to offer clarification. Most horticulturists use the spelling illinoensis. In fact, that spelling is specified in the ASHS Publications Manual (1991). This is consistent with the recommendation of the Crop Advisory Committee for Pecans and Hickories [Grauke, 1985, HortScience 20(4):629-630.]. At the time that recommendation was made, a proposal to conserve the name of pecan as Carya illinoensis (Wangenheim) K. Koch was submitted to the Standing Committee for Stabilization of Nomenclature, for consideration at the meeting at the XIVth International Botanical Congress in Berlin, July 1987 (Grauke et al., 1987, Taxon 35:174-177). We were confident that the proposal would be accepted, given the long history of that name's usage and the fact that previous Botanical Congresses, although lacking a mechanism for authoritative implementation, had decided in favor of C. illinoensis (Schubert, 1969, Regime Veg. 60:110). Unfortunately, the proposal was rejected (Nicolson, 1988, Taxon 37:440). As a result, the appropriate scientific name of pecan is
Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch.

L. J. Grauke,
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Pecan Breeding & Genetics
Somerville, TX