Blog 2 - Pecan Tree Anatomy and Morphology

Blog 2 - Pecan Tree Anatomy and Morphology

When wanting to know a plants anatomy and morphology one often starts with a simple distinction between a monocot and a dicot plant. Morphology is the study of the form and structure of plants, while anatomy covers the arrangement of cells, tissues, organs and other structures. Thus, knowing the differences between the two types will give one insight how a plant grows and what it will need to be able to develop.

You can distinguish the two types by going over a simple checklist.

Figure 1 Detailed picture of a monocot and dicot (Flowering plants monocotyledon and dicotyledon science lesson in English, 2017)

Pecan: monocot or dicot?

We will do a test in order to classify the pecan tree. Looking at the leaves of the pecan tree we can see that the leaf veins are not parallel, which classifies the pecan as a dicot plant. (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch, 2017).

Figure 2 Pecan leaves (Pecan Tree Leaves, 2017).

Pecan Morphology

A plant has four organs; the root, stem, leaves and flowers. Another division could also be made between the root and shoot systems. The division could be made easily. The root system is everything underneath the soil, while the shoot system is all the plant material above the soil. the pecan tree can reach a height of around twenty meters and a trunk width of approximately two meter. (Andersen, 2015).

Root System

The root system of the pecan have a taproot and a long spreading root system. (Pecan, 2017). In the earlier developing stages of the pecan it is mainly known for its taproot. But after a couple of years, a fibrous root system develops. (Woodroof & Woodroof, 2017).

Growth 

The pecan has a determinate growth habit. This means that its ultimate size is genetically predetermined. The size of the nuts, however, can be influenced by environmental conditions. The parameters effecting the process are; the vigour of the tree, the nut position, the fertility of the soil and moisture supply and the size of the crop. (Byford, 2017).

Flowering

Nut production starts with the flowering of the tree. The pecan tree has both male and female flowering organs, but they are placed in different spaces. This is called monoecious flowering. The pecan is also classified as a dichogamus, which means that the pollen shedding and pistil flowering receptively occur at different times. (Botany, 2017).  Self-pollination is very common, but cross-pollination has proven to result in better nuts. Pistillate flowers that are not fertilized fall off within 5 - 6 weeks after they were receptive. The pecan nuts are, of course, the seeds for the next pecan tree. (Byford, 2017).

Bibliography

Andersen, P. (2015, November). The Pecan Tree. Retrieved from Florida State University: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs229

Botany. (2017, 09 17). Retrieved from Oklahoma State University: http://pecan.okstate.edu/html/introduction/id.htm

Byford, R. (2017, 09 14). Growth and Development of Pecan Nuts. Retrieved from Mexico State University: http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/H618.pdf

Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch. (2017, 09 11). Retrieved from United States Deaprtment of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=cail2

Flowering plants monocotyledon and dicotyledon science lesson in English. (2017, 09 11). Retrieved from Easy Pace Learning : https://www.easypacelearning.com/science/plants/plants/1333-flowering-plants-monocots-and-dicots-monocotyledon-and-dicotyledon

Pecan. (2017, 09 14). Retrieved from New Zealand Tree Crop Assosiation: http://www.treecrops.org.nz/crops/nut/pecan/

Pecan Tree Leaves. (2017, 09 12). Retrieved from Imgarcade: http://imgarcade.com/pecan-tree-leaves.html

Woodroof, N. J., & Woodroof, J. (2017, 09 14). PECAN ROOT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. Retrieved from United States Department of Agriculture: https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/IND43968576/PDF