ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the information on uses, folk medicine, chemistry, germplasm, distribution, ecol-ogy, cultivation, harvesting, yields, energy, and biotic factors of Carya Illinoensis. Kemels of nuts eaten raw, roasted, or salted and used in candies, confections, ice cream, mixed nuts, and for flavoring in baking and cookery. Pecan oil, expressed from kernels, is edible and sold for the drug, essential oil, and cosmetic trade. Pecan timber has been used for veneer and lumber, flooring, and still for firewood. Reported to be astringent, pecan is a folk remedy for blood ailments, dyspepsia, fever, flu, hepatitis, leucorrhea, malaria, and stomach-ache. Schroeder and Storey report aflatoxins in pecans with sound shells. In western pecan orchards, trees are used in the manner of interplanted fruit trees since the trees do not grow so fast and cvs may be selected that are prolific at a relatively young age and size.
