ANONACEAE 177 



ASIMINA, Adanson. The Pawpaws.* 



Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal. 



(Common, or Northern) Pawpaw. 



Sometimes a small tree, "-20 or 25 feet tall, but oftener a large 

 erect shrub with few branches. The flowers are dull greenish pur- 

 ple, and ai)pear just before the leaves in spring. It is sold by 

 nurserymen for ornamental purposes, but has no particular attrac- 

 tion except that it is something different. Its bark is said to have 

 been made into ropes and mats in Mississippi. The fruit is more 

 or less edible, but not at all abundant, and therefore little known. 

 The seeds are supposed to have some medicinal properties. 



Rather rare with us, in rich woods and bottoms. 



lA. Along Cypress Creek near Florence, and on the south side of 

 Mussel Shoals. ( One specimen seen there about 8 inches by 30 feet. ) 



IB. Near Plymouth Rock Landing on Tennessee River, Morgan 

 County. 



2B. Near Corona, Walker County. Tuscaloosa County. 



3. Blount, St. Clair and Talladega Counties. 



5. South of Erin, Clay County (if identified correctly). 



6A. Mulberry Creek bottoms near Maplesville. 



6C. Autauga and Montgomery Counties (Mohr). 



7. Sandy bank of Cahaba River east of Marion Junction. 



Asimina parviflora (oVLx.) Dunal. Pawpaw. 



Similar to A, triloba except in size, being seldom more than 

 three or four feet tall, and having leaves and flowers only about 

 half as large ; but it is sometimes hard to tell large specimens of 

 this from small ones of the preceding. The fruit is more or less 

 edible, but is rather scarce, averaging probably not more than one 

 to a plant. 



Grows in dry but moderately rich woods and hammocks, pro- 

 tected from fire nearly all the time. Widely distributed but no- 

 where abundant. Not known in the Tennessee Valley. 



2A. DeKalb and Blount Counties. Cullman County (Mohr). 

 2B. Tuscaloosa County. 



3. Talladega County, and doubtless others. 



4. Calhoun, Clay and Coosa Counties. 



5. Clay, Coosa, Tallapoosa and Elmore Counties. Lee County (Baker 

 and Earle). 



6A, 6B. Tuscaloosa County. 

 6C. Autauga County. 

 7. Montgomery County. 



*This word is sometimes spelled "papaw", but that form belongs more 

 properly to the papaw or papaya (Carica Papaya, L.), a tropical food plant 

 of a different family. 



