Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)

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The largest of all the hickory trees, the Pecan tree can reach heights of up to 160 feet. This massive-trunked tree features stout branches supporting a symmetrical, oval crown. The pecan is primarily cultivated because of its seed – the edible pecan nut, which is used in recipes for candies, desserts, and more. Like the fruit of other members of the hickory family, the pecan is technically not a nut, but a drupe – a fruit with a single stone or pit surrounded by a husk. The Pecan is the state tree of Texas and is also included in the state symbols of Alabama, Arkansas, California, and Oklahoma.