Handbook of Trees of the Northern States and Canada. 217 



Only under most favorable conditions does 

 the Papaw attain the height of 30 or 40 ft. 

 and is often only a large shrub. Its trunk is 

 rarely more tlian from S-12 in. in diameter, 

 though I have seen it measuring IS in. It com- 

 monly grows in thickets occupying tiic ground 

 exclusively, and is sometimes scattered as 

 an undergrowth in the forests of rich bottom- 

 huids. Ulicn isolated it develops a distinct 

 pyramidal head. The bark of the trunk is of 

 a dark brown color, thin and quite smooth, 

 or sparingly fissured on old trunks. 



The handsome foliage of the Papaw, its 

 beautiful flowers in early spring, and its curi- 

 ous fruit in autumn, strongly recommend it 

 for ornamental planting. The fruit when very 

 ripe is delicious and nutritious and sold in 

 considerable quantities in local markets in 

 regions where the trees abound. 



The light wood, of which a cubic foot vi^eighs 

 24.73 lbs., is of handsome greenish and yellow 

 tints when freshly cut, but is of no commercial 

 importance. The fibrous inner bark was for- 

 merly used for making cord for fish nets.i 



Leaves lance-obovate, 8-12 in. long, cuneate at 

 base, abruptly acuminate or acute at apex, glabrous 

 light green above, paler beneath. Flowers ap- 

 pearing with the leaves, dark purple, l^/a in. 

 across, with rusty tomentose peduncles ; sepals 

 broad-ovate, densely dark-tomentose : petals at 

 first small and green but finally purple when fully 

 grown and 2 or 3 times as long as the sepals, 

 nectiferous at base. Fruit cylindrical-oblong, ob- 

 lique, 3-,5 in. long, single or clustered 2 or :i 

 together with common peduncle, with smooth 

 yellowish green rind, custard-like fragrant luscious 

 flesh and oblong seeds about 1 in. long.- 



1. A. \V., IV, 76. 



2. For genus see p. 435. 



