Pawpaws are deciduous shrubs or small trees with brown, woolly buds bearing two to three outer scales. Leaves are alternate, entire, and large. Flowers are perfect, and the fruit is an edible berry.
Asimina triloba–Common Pawpaw
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| Common Pawpaw |
Common Pawpaw–Asimina triloba
The pawpaw is found from western New York and New Jersey, south to Florida, and west to Michigan and Texas. This tree occurs locally in northern Ohio and becomes common in the southern part of the state where it forms thickets on waste areas.
The pawpaw is a dainty tree, rarely exceeding 30 feet in height. This is a forest understory tree.
The leaves are simple, alternate, and 6—12 inches (15—30 cm) long. Foliage is lanceolate in shape with a short, pointed apex and a long, tapering leaf base. The leaf margin is entire. Foliage is medium green and glabrous when mature.
Terminal buds are brown, naked, and flattened. Pawpaw has brown, woolly, lateral buds bearing two to three outer scales. Flower buds are round, 1/6 inch (4 mm) in diameter, very hairy, and dark brown. The twigs are rather slender, smooth, and olive brown with enlarged nodes. The bark is thin, smooth, dark brown, and often dotted with light blotches.
The solitary flowers are large, 1—11/2 inches (25—38 mm) wide. Flowers are green at first, turning purplish-brown later, and opening in April or May. Flowers are carried below and hidden by the foliage on short stalks. The fruit suggests a stubby banana. It is 3—5 inches (71/2—13 mm) long, green at first, turning yellow, then dark brown when ripe. The fruit contains many dark brown, shiny, flat seeds throughout the flesh. Fruit ripens in September or October but should not be eaten until after being exposed to frost. It is edible, and some say that it tastes like a banana.
This tree is uncommonly planted but has been quite urban-tolerant where it has been used. In open landscapes, this plant has a regular outline and is quite attractive. The wood is soft, weak, yellow to brown in color, and not used commercially.