Carya illinoinensis
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64400f82c2d1e973346843 |
| Scientific name | Carya illinoinensis |
| Authority | (Wangenh.) K.Koch |
| First published in | Dendrologie 1: 593 (1869) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
According to James Mooney’s 1902 account of Cherokee practices, the inner bark of the pecan (Carya illinoinensis) was boiled in water to make a strong decoction taken to relieve cough and dysentery. Mooney recorded this use among the Cherokee of the Appalachian foothills. Daniel E. Moerman’s 1998 compilation of Native American plant use records that the Choctaw brewed a tea from the leaves as a mild diuretic and to soothe urinary discomfort; Moerman noted this practice along the Mississippi River floodplain. The American Indian Ethnobotany Database (University of Michigan) documents that the Huastec peoples of northern Mexico prepared a leaf infusion for fever and upset stomach, describing their activity in the Sierra Madre Oriental. All three records describe preparations that involve either an infusion or a decoction, using the bark or leaves as the medicinal part.
To make a mild leaf tea suitable for the traditional uses described, measure roughly 2 g (about one level teaspoon) of dried pecan leaves, place them in a heat‑resistant cup, and pour 250 ml of just‑boiled water over them. Cover and steep for 5–10 minutes, then strain. The tea can be consumed warm, up to three times a day. Because the preparation contains tannins and other astringents, it should be avoided during pregnancy and limited to short courses to prevent stomach irritation. A stronger bark decoction can be made by simmering 10 g of dried bark in 500 ml of water for 15 minutes, cooling, and taking ½ cup three times daily, again observing the same safety cautions.
Analyses of Carya illinoinensis have consistently identified a suite of phenolic compounds that plausibly underlie its traditional actions. Johnson, R., et al., 2009 reported quercetin, kaempferol and related flavonoids, together with gallic and caffeic acids, in both the leaves and bark of the species. The bark also contains hydrolysable tannins and the naphthoquinone juglone, substances known to be astringent, anti‑inflammatory and antimicrobial.
Modern research has confirmed antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory activities in pecan leaf extracts, supporting the historical uses, and the nuts are now widely marketed for their heart‑healthy fat profile. While commercial leaf teas are still niche, some producers in Texas and Mexico now package dried pecan leaf tea for consumers seeking herbal alternatives, although scientific validation remains limited. The traditional bark and leaf preparations continue to be used in some Native American and Mexican communities, and the plant remains an object of ongoing ethnobotanical and pharmacological study.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
• Seed: edible nuts in confectionery, desserts, and baked goods; also processed into nut meats and in-shell bulk commodity.
• Seed oil: edible oil extracted by pressing; used in culinary frying and salad applications.
• Hulls and shells: crushed shells as abrasive grit for blasting and polishing; hulls employed in tanning and as natural brown colorants for textiles.
Industrial and craft applications:
• Ground shell (flour) as filler in phenolic resins, foundry molds, and abrasives; used as blasting medium for surface cleaning and cleaning/nutrition of poultry and livestock.
• Carbon from shells for adsorption and filtration media; carbonized for activated carbon production.
• Wood used in furniture, veneer, flooring, cabinetry, tool handles, cooperage, and specialty turned items.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
• Nuts (raw, roasted, or salted) marketed as snack foods; used as ingredients in pies, cakes, confectionery, and coated nuts; incorporated into ice cream, chocolates, and praline mixes.
• Edible seed oil marketed as culinary oil.
Colorants and tanning:
• Natural brown dyes derived from hulls (phenolics) for wool and protein fibers; hulls used for tanning hides and as mordants.
Wood and fiber:
• Heartwood (light brown with darker striping) with density approximately 635–785 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content; coarse-to-medium texture and favorable strength and shock resistance suitable for flooring and cabinetry.
• Sapwood (light-colored) less desirable; wood steam-bends well and accepts finishes.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
• No documented uses.
Properties relevant to use:
• Kernel oil: high oleic acid content (~60–75%) with lower saturated fats; saponification and iodine values consistent with edible culinary oil profiles.
• Hulls/shells: phenolic tannin content enables brown dyeing and vegetable tanning; shells contribute high abrasive hardness and carbon yield for filtration/adsorption.
• Wood density and grain properties support flooring and furniture applications; adequate toughness for tool handles and cooperage.
Standards and regulation:
• Nut kernels and derived foods follow national food safety and labeling regulations (e.g., EU food law, U.S. FDA FSMA); seed oil graded per edible oil specifications (e.g., Codex Alimentarius).
• Wood products comply with grading and performance standards (e.g., U.S. NHLA grading rules; ISO/ASTM physical-property methods).
Sustainability and sourcing:
• Wood and nuts primarily sourced from managed orchards; shell utilization diversifies revenue and reduces waste.
• Shell carbon and abrasive products support circular use of processing residues.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Juglans angustifolia | Aiton | Hort. Kew. 3: 361 (1789) |
| Juglans rubra | Gaertn. | Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 51 (1790) |
| Juglans cylindrica | Lam. | Encycl. 4: 505 (1798) |
| Juglans pecan | Marshall | Arbust. Amer. : 69 (1785) |
| Juglans illinoinensis | Wangenh. | Beytr. Teut. Forstwiss. 54 1787 |
| Carya angustifolia | Sweet | Hort. Brit. : 97 (1826) |
| Carya diguetii | Dode | Bull. Soc. Bot. France 55: 470 (1908) |
| Carya oliviformis | (Michx.) Nutt. | Gen. N. Amer. Pl. [Nuttall]. 2: 221. 1818 [14 Jul 1818] |
| Carya pecan | (Walter) Nutt. | N. Amer. Sylv. 1: 41 (1842) |
| Carya pecan | Engl. & Graebn. | Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 3(App. 9): 19 (1902) |
| Carya tetraptera | Liebm. | Vidensk. Meddel. Naturhist. Foren. Kjøbenhavn 1850: 80 (1850) |
| Hicorius diguetii | Standl. | Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 23: 1648 (1926) |
| Hicoria pecan | (Marshall) Britton | Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 15: 282 1888 |
| Hicorius tetraptera | (Liebm.) J.Rzedowski et al. | in C. Conzatti, Fl. Taxon. Mexic., ed. 3 1: 673 (1988), with incorrect basionym ref. |
| Hicorius oliviformis | Nutt. | |
| Juglans oliviformis | Michx. | Hist. Arbr. Forest. 1: 173 (1810) |
| Hicorius pecan | Britton | Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 15: 282 (1888) |
| Juglans alba var. pacana | Castigl. | Viagg. Stati Uniti 2: 262 (1790) |
| Hicorius oliviformis | (F.Michx.) Raf. | Fl. Ludov. : 109 (1817) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | pecan |
| English | sweet pecan |
| Spanish | pecan |
| Spanish | nogal americano |
| Spanish | nogal pacanero |
| Spanish | nuez americana |
| Spanish | nuez de illinois |
| Spanish | nuez de pacana |
| Spanish | nuez pecan |
| Spanish | nuez pecana |
| Spanish | nuez pecanera |
| Spanish | pecadero |
| Spanish | pecán |
| Spanish | pecana |
| Spanish | carya diguetii |
| Spanish | carya tetraptera |
| Spanish | hicoria pecan |
| Spanish | hicorius oliviformis |
| Spanish | juglans illinoinensis |
| Arabic | بقان |
| Azerbaijani | pekan |
| Azerbaijani | İllinoys karyası |
| azb | پکان |
| Bulgarian | обикновен хикори |
| Catalan | pecan |
| Catalan | oli de pacaner |
| Catalan | pacaner |
| Czech | ořechovec pekanový |
| cv | Пекан |
| Danish | pekan |
| German | pecannuss |
| German | pekannuss |
| German | carya oliviformis |
| German | carya pecan |
| Esperanto | pekano |
| Basque | pekan zuhaitz |
| Persian | گردو پیکان |
| Finnish | pekaanihikkori |
| Finnish | pekaanipähkinä |
| French | pacanier |
| Hebrew | אגוז פקאן |
| Hebrew | פקן |
| Hebrew | קריית הפקאן |
| Hebrew | פקאן |
| Hungarian | pekándió |
| Armenian | կարիա պեկան |
| Indonesian | pecan |
| Italian | pecan |
| Italian | pekan |
| Japanese | ピーカン |
| Japanese | ピーカンナッツ |
| Japanese | ペカン |
| Georgian | პეკანი |
| Korean | 피칸 |
| krj | pakano |
| Lithuanian | pekaninė karija |
| Latvian | pekanriekstkoki |
| Latvian | pekanriekstkoks |
| Latvian | pekans |
| Latvian | ilinoisas kārija |
| Macedonian | пекан |
| Malayalam | പികാൻ |
| Malay | pokok pecan |
| Norwegian Bokmål | pecannøtt |
| Dutch | pecan |
| Dutch | pecannoot |
| os | Хуымæтæджы пекан |
| pam | pakánu |
| Polish | orzesznik pekan |
| Polish | orzesznik pekanowaty |
| Polish | orzesznik jadalny |
| Portuguese | nós-pecã |
| Portuguese | noz-pecã |
| Portuguese | nogueira-pecã |
| Romanian | pecan |
| Russian | Гикори пекан |
| Russian | Кария иллинойская |
| Russian | Кария иллинойсская |
| Russian | Кария пекан |
| Russian | Пекан |
| Russian | Пекан обыкновенный |
| Slovenian | ilinojska hikorija |
| Slovenian | ameriški oreh |
| Slovenian | pekan |
| Slovenian | ilinojski hikorijevec |
| Serbian | Пекан |
| Swedish | pecannöt |
| Swedish | pecannötter |
| Swedish | pecanöt |
| Swedish | pekannötter |
| Swedish | pekannöt |
| Swedish | pekanträd |
| Tamil | பேக்கான் |
| Thai | พีแคน |
| Turkish | pekan cevizi |
| Ukrainian | карія пекан |
| Ukrainian | гікорі-пекан |
| vec | pecan |
| xmf | პეკანი |
| Chinese | 美国山核桃 |
| Chinese | 長山核桃 |
| Chinese | 幸运果 |
| Chinese | 碧根果 |
| Chinese | 美洲山核桃 |
| Chinese | 薄壳山核桃 |
| Chinese | 长山核桃 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
Caucasus
- North Caucasus
- Transcaucasus
-
China
- China Southeast
-
Middle Asia
- Tadzhikistan
-
Caucasus
-
Northern America click to expand
-
Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Northeast
- Mexico Southwest
-
North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
-
Northeastern U.S.A.
- Indiana
-
South-central U.S.A.
- Texas
-
Southeastern U.S.A.
- Arkansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
-
Mexico
-
Southern America click to expand
-
Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
-
Southern South America
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000588763 |
| UNII | 5S06GUJ567 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 1894 |
| Flora of Alabama | 2365 |
| USDA Plants | CAIL2 |
| Tropicos | 16700024 |
| INPN | 706015 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:442167-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2701784 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 281352 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 259040 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 32201 |
| Nature Serve | 2.140348 |
| IUCN Red List | 62019622 |
| IPNI | 442167-1 |
| iNaturalist | 67593 |
| GBIF | 3054289 |
| Freebase | /m/01btbt |
| FEIS | plants/tree/carill |
| EPPO | CYAIL |
| EOL | 594985 |
| Elurikkus | 3492 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 9299 |
| USDA GRIN | 9253 |
| Wikipedia | Pecan |
| PFAF | Carya illinoinensis |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCF_018687715.1 | C.illinoinensisPawnee_v1 | Chromosome | DOE Joint Genome Institute | 2021-06-03 | 52.12 | 643.04 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| Protocatechuic Acid | 72 | Click to see | 154.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600530403 |
| > Benzenoids / Naphthalenes / Naphthoquinones | |||||
| Juglone | 3806 | Click to see | 174.15 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.119.3.498 https://doi.org/10.1021/JF60221A027 |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Dibenzylbutane lignans / Dibenzylbutanediol lignans | |||||
| Secoisolariciresinol | 65373 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)CC(CO)C(CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)OC)CO)O | 362.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327914NC5402_5 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS.119.3.498 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Azaleatin | 5281604 | Click to see | 316.26 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOL.2011.07.004 https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.83.9_897 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-Dihydroxy-3-(3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(Hydroxymethyl)Oxan-2-Yl)Oxychromen-4-One | 5378597 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.3998/ARK.5550190.0005.616 https://doi.org/10.1002/PCA.818 |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 162956905 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC3=C(OC4=C(C3=O)C(=CC(=C4)O)OC)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 624.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1977-5-623 |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3S,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 162817176 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1C(=O)C(=C(O2)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)COC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 640.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91077-X |
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-4-oxo-4H-1-benzopyran-3-yl 6-deoxyhexopyranoside | 12308718 | Click to see | 462.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91077-X |
| Azaleatin 3-glucoside | 44259529 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1C(=O)C(=C(O2)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O | 478.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91077-X |
| Azaleatin 3-rhamnoside | 44259531 | Click to see | 462.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91077-X |
| Azalein | 5321320 | Click to see | 462.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91077-X |
| Quercetin 3-alloside | 12304327 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1977-5-623 |
| quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-fucopyranoside | 5359430 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)91077-X |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,5-dimethoxy-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 132520409 | Click to see | 506.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOL.2011.07.004 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 5-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| [2-Hydroxy-5-(7-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-4-oxochromen-2-yl)phenyl] hydrogen sulfate | 162849902 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1C(=O)C(=C(O2)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OS(=O)(=O)O)OC)O | 410.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOL.2011.07.004 |
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one | 5489501 | Click to see | 330.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOL.2011.07.004 |
| Quercetin 3,5,3'-trimethyl ether | 14162697 | Click to see | 344.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYTOL.2011.07.004 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |