Pond Apple 



395 



the veins of the under side, where some of the brown pubescence is often retained 

 until they are fully grown; they are rather narrowly obovate, i to 3 dm. long, 

 abruptly short-pointed, narrowed to a wedge- 

 shaped base, deep green on the upper surface, 

 paler beneath; their stalks are only 5 to 10 mm. 

 in length. The flowers are borne at leaf scars 

 on twigs of the preceding season, and appear 

 with the leaves from March to June, according 

 to latitude; the 3 valvate sepals are broadly 

 ovate, 8 to 12 mm. long, densely hairy; the 6 

 thick, strongly nerved petals, at first green, be- 

 coming purple, are in two series of 3, the outer 

 ones ovate-orbicular, 2 to 2.5 cm. long, reflexed, 

 larger than the erect inner ones; the stamens 

 have short filaments and separated anther-sacs; 

 the several pistils are borne on top of the globose 

 receptacle. The fruits (berries) are very large, 

 oblong-cylindric, 16 cm. long or less, about 4 

 cm. thick, yellow when ripe in the autumn, containing many dark brown flattened 

 shining seeds horizontally imbedded in the edible pulp. 



The tree is very desirable for decorative planting on account of its interesting 

 leaves, which haK-droop at an unusual angle, and also on account of its handsome 

 flowers and fruit. Its wood is light yellow, weak and soft, with a specific gravity 

 of only about 0.40. 



About seven other species of Asimina grow in the southeastern States, especially 

 in Florida, but they are all shrubs, though A. obovata sometimes attains a height 

 of 3 meters. The genus does not exist in the wild state beyond the North American 

 continent. 



The generic name is from assimin, the aboriginal appellation. The common 

 name. Pawpaw, is unfortunate, for the fruit bears scarcely any resemblance, except 

 in color, to that of the Papaw or Papaya (Carica Papaya Linnaeus) which grows 

 in southern Florida and throughout tropical America, and the plants belong to 

 widely different natural families. 



Fig. 349. — North American Pawpaw. 



II. POND APPLE 



GENUS ANONA LINN^US 

 Species Anona glabra Linnaeus 



NONA includes some 50 species of trees and shrubs, mostly aromatic, 

 of wide distribution in warm and tropical regions. They have ever- 

 green leaves and rather large, perfect flowers. The flowers have 3 

 valvate sepals and 6 valvate petals in two series of 3, the inner ones 

 smaller than the outer; the receptacle is hemispheric; the numerous pistils are 



