The Pecan (Carya illinoinensis or illinoensis) is a species of hickory, native to south-central North America, in Mexico from Coahuila south to Jalisco and Veracruz, in the United States from southern Iowa, Illinois and Indiana east to western Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and western Tennessee, south through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas

Pecans first became known to Europeans in the 16th century; the Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca saw and wrote first about this plant.[citation needed] The Spaniards brought the pecan into Europe, Asia, and Africa beginning in the 16th century. In 1792 William Bartram reported in his botanical book, Travels, a nut tree, "Juglans exalata' that some botanists today argue was the American pecan tree, but others argue was hickory, "Carya ovata". Pecan trees are native to the United States, and writing about the Pecan tree goes back to the nation founders. Thomas Jefferson planted pecan trees, "Carya illinoinensis,' (Illinois nuts) in his nut orchard at his beautiful home, Monticello, in Virginia. George Washington reported in his journal that Thomas Jefferson gave him "Illinois nuts" pecans which grew at Mount Vernon, Virginia, George Washington's home.

Male catkins in springThe 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.

In addition to the pecan nut, the wood is also used in making furniture, in hardwood flooring, as well as flavoring fuel for smoking meats.