how would you describe a pecan?

Question

the nut.

Answer 1

DELICIOUS!!!!

Answer 2

One of God's greatest ideas! Brown shell with varigated markings, very bad tasting reddish brown insulation, wonderfully delicous meat once you get the shell cracked and apart! Great in pies, pancakes, banana nut bread, muffins, waffles, and the squirrels really appreciate them :)

Answer 3

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. Trees may live and bear nuts for more than 300 hundred years and is one of the largest of the hickory family.[1] The Pecan harvest for growers is traditionally around mid October and they grow wild in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana and other southeastern states of the U.S.


Ripe pecan nuts on tree




Pecan nuts, shelled and unshelledThe 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, beacause most cultivars, for being clones clones derived from wild trees, show incomplete dichogamy. So mostly two or more trees or 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.

Taste and Nutrition

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. Nutritionally, Pecans are a good source of protein and also unsaturated fats, where studies have shown they can lower the risk of Gallstones.[2] The Antioxidants and plant sterols found in Pecans have be shown to reduce high Cholesterol by oxidating the (bad) (LDL) Cholesterol levels.[3]

Uses and Consumption

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 commerical 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.[4] 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.

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]
External Industry Links
National Pecan Shellers Association - www.ilovepecans.org
Georgia Pecan Commission - Organization Represents all Georgia Pecan Farmers.
Texas Pecan Growers Association - Member organization of Texas Pecan Farmers.
Young Pecan Company - Watch a Short Video on Processing and Storage of Pecans.
Green Valley Pecan Co. - Another video about pecans from Green Valley Pecan Company in Arizona
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecan"
Categories: Fagales | Edible nuts and seeds

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hope this helps

Answer 4

A nut, the looks like a walnut encased in a tough shell that is mixed colors. I don't know.. what kind of question is this?! LOL! Just kidding, it's a tough one.. Good luck!

Answer 5

A good tasting nut both raw as well as in cookies, icecream and brownies.

Answer 6

It has an inside meat like a skinny walnut and a smooth outside shell like a bald walnut.

Answer 7

looks like a human brain, a brown one.

Answer 8

brown

Answer 9

i find them to be a bit bitter, but they are good in baked goods.

Answer 10

good in pie

Answer 11

it's sorta brown...