DENDROLOGY. 117 



ANONA. 



Polyandria Polyginia. Linn. Anonae. Juss. Tonic, aperient. 



Pawpaw. Anona triloba. 



This tree is called by the French of upper Louisiana and of 

 the two Canadas, Assiminier, and by the Americans, Pawpaw. 

 It is seldom found north of the river Schuylkill, and is extremely 

 rare in the low, maritime parts of the Southern States. It is not 

 uncommon in the bottoms which stretch along the rivers of the 

 Middle States ; but it is most abundant in the rich valleys 

 intersected by the western waters, where at intervals, it forms 

 thickets exclusively occupying several acres. In Kentucky and 

 in the western part of Tennessee, it is sometimes seen also in 

 forests where the soil is luxuriantly fertile ; of which and its 

 presence is an infallible proof. 



It seldom exceeds 30 feet in height and a diameter of six or 

 eight inches, though it generally stops short at half this elevation. 

 The trunk is covered with a silver-gray bark, which is smooth 

 and finely polished. The leaves are borne on short petioles, 

 and are alternate, five or six inches in length, and of an elongated 

 form,. widening from the base to the summit. They are of a 

 fine texture, and the superior surface 'is smooth and brilliant. 

 The flowers, which are attached by short peduncles, are pendent, 

 and of a purple hue. When the fruit is ripe, which takes place 

 towards the beginning of August, it is about three inches long, 

 one and a half thick, of a yellowish color, and of an oval form, 

 irregular and swelling into inequalities. Its pulp is soft and of 

 an insipid taste, and it contains several large, triangular stones. 



The wood is spongy, extremely soft, destitute of strength, and 

 applicable to no use in the mechanical arts. A spirituous liquor 

 may be distilled from its fruit. The cellular integument of the 

 bark, and particularly that of the roots, exhales in summer a 

 nauseous odor, so powerful as to occasion sickness if it is long 

 respired in open air. 



