USEFUL WILD PLANTS 



rank, rather repulsive odor, but when fully matured, 

 all that is changed into an agreeable fragrance, hard 

 to define — a sort of composite of cantaloupe, summer 

 ajiples and fox grapes. Brought indoors, two or 

 three will soon perfume a wliole room. As to 

 palatability, tastes differ: some people loathe the 

 flavor; others are fond of it. It ought not to be con- 

 dennied on the evidence of unripe specimens, but 

 should be tested fully mature, at which stage the 

 little *' apples" are yellowish in color and drop into 

 the hand at a touch. They may be eaten raw in 

 moderation, the outer rind being first removed, or 

 they may be converted into jell}^ Care should be 

 exercised with respect to the leaves and the root, 

 which are drastic and poisonous. 



Occurring throughout the same range with the 

 May Apple, but much less common east of the 

 Alleghenies, is a small tree affecting stream borders 

 and producing in early spring odd, solitary, purplish 

 flowers pendulous from the leaf axils at the same 

 time with the opening leaves. It is the North 

 American Papaw {Asimina triloba, Dunal). In Sep- 

 tember or October it bears sparse bunches of oblong, 

 greenish, pulpy fruits each four or five inches in 

 length and an inch or two in diameter, known as 

 pai)aws, wild bananas, or, by old time French set- 



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