Author
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Whittemore, Alan |
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Submitted to: Flora of Missouri
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 6/13/2003 Publication Date: 6/20/2014 Citation: Whittemore, A.T. 2014. JUGLANDACEAE. Flora of Missouri. 282-294. Interpretive Summary: This contribution will form a section of the Flora of Missouri, a manual published by the State of Missouri (Department of Conservation) to provide up-to-date information on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all plants that are wild or invasive in Missouri, together with a guide for identification, aimed at professional and sophisticated amateur users. Many species of Juglandaceae are important as street and yard trees in the area, and some are also important for their edible nuts, especially the pecan (Carya illinoinensis). The taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all species of Juglandaceae native to Missouri is reevaluated, based primarily on a thorough reexamination of available herbarium specimens, and a guide for identification is supplied. Nine species in two genera are included, several of which are important components of forests throughout the state. Current and past economic importance of the species is briefly summarized, based on data from herbarium specimens and the scientific and trade literature. This contribution provides up-to-date information on the biology of this group of species, along with identification aids, useful in Missouri and through most of the upper Midwest. Professional land managers, educators, conservationists, and sophisticated amateur botanists and horticulturalists will use it to insure that plants are properly identified, and work on land management and conservation will be based on full, accurate and up-to-date information about the basic biology and relationships of these organisms. Technical Abstract: The family Juglandaceae is treated for the Flora of Missouri, a detailed floristic manual for the state published by the Missouri (State) Department of Conservation. Two genera and nine species are recognized; full morphological descriptions, dichotomous keys, and brief summaries of geographical and ecological distribution, economic use, and taxonomic notes are given for each of them. Several of the species are important components of forests throughout the state, and are an important source of food for wildlife. Many Juglandaceae are important as street and yard trees in the area. Both genera provide high-quality hardwood. In pre-Columbian times, most of the species were important for their edible nuts, but now only the pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is heavily used. |
