![]() Flowers have a somewhat unpleasant odor that attracts the flies and carrion beetles necessary for successful pollination. The flowers, which develop before or with the leaves, are 1 to 2 inches across and reddish purple to maroon in color. The growth form is relatively open, and the bark stays tight and thin, even on older trees. When crushed, the leaves have a strong odor reminiscent of bell pepper. It has large leaves (approximately 10 inches in length and approximately 4 inches wide) that are fuzzy when young but become smooth with age. In the wild, it tends to grow in wet soils near streams or other bodies of water and can tolerate considerable shade. Depending on conditions, it can range from 3 feet in height to as tall as 30 feet and can form spreading thickets from root sprouts. Common Pawpaw General DescriptionĬommon pawpaw ( Asimina triloba) is a large shrub or small tree found across most of Alabama, with greater populations found in the northern half of the state. Two of the species found in the state, common pawpaw (Asimina triloba) and small flower pawpaw (Asimina parvifolia), have notable fruiting potential. Most members of the family are tropical, but there are a handful of native species that live in Alabama and beyond. ![]() triloba just keeps giving us more reasons to like it: it’s the larval host of the elegant zebra swallowtail butterfly ( Eurytides marcellus) and the pawpaw sphinx moth ( Dolba hyloeus).Pawpaw is an intriguing native fruit in the custard apple family. whether at Meadowcroft or the rugged hills of Arkansas, the earliest Americans put pawpaws to great use.” Beside the cool leaves and flowers and tasty fruit, A. ![]() In his book “Pawpaw: In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit,” food author Andrew Moore writes that “pawpaw seeds and other remnants have been found at archaeological sites of the earliest Native Americans, and in large, concentrated amounts. It’s known that pawpaw was important in many early Indigenous diets. The drooping leaves may be up to a foot long and give the tree a tropical look. The fly-pollinated flowers are reddish and give off a disagreeable odor. To produce fruits, pawpaw’s flowers must be cross-pollinated from genetically distinct plants. ![]() This family includes soursop and custard-apple.Īsimina triloba’s growth habit is clonal, and it can form small colonies. Southern Michigan is generally the northernmost range of this tree that hails from the mostly tropical Annonaceae family. The University of Michigan Herbarium reports that pawpaw has been found in most of the lower tier of Michigan counties. Pawpaw grows to about 30 feet and is hardy in zones 5a-8b. It’s an understory tree that tolerates shade and likes its feet consistently moist, rich, and well-drained. Pawpaw is found from western New York west to eastern Texas and east to the Florida panhandle. The pungently scented fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and needs ripening in a well-ventilated area until the skin turns yellow to brown and the flesh is soft. This week’s native plant is the pawpaw, a plant that’s been getting a lot of attention lately for its tropical-tasting fruits, likened to the flavors of banana, mango, and pineapple. A taste of the tropics right here in Michigan. By Joseph Mooney Native plant of the week: Pawpaw ( Asimina triloba).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |