160 



COMMON PAP AW. 



Asimina triloba, Dunal. 



FAMILY AND GENUS DESCRIPTION— The Custard Apple family, Anonaceae, comprises 



about 46 genera with 600 species confined mostly to the tropics. Only a few species are found 

 in temperate regions. This family produces little that is of real economic importance. Only 2 

 genera, Asimina and Anona, are represented by tree species in the United States. The genus 

 Asimina does not have representatives outside; of Notth America, where about 8 species are 

 known to occur. The sole representative of this family native to this State is the species de- 

 scribed on this page. 



FORM — A small tree usually 10-40 ft. in height with a diameter up to 12 inches. Trunk short 

 and slender. Crown rather broad, high, and formed by straight rather spreading lateral branches. 



BARK — Thin, close, sometimes slightly fissured, dark brown, often covered with scattered 

 v;hite blotches. 



TWIGS — Round, olive-brown, enlarged at the nodes, rather slender, at first often somewhat 

 hairy towards apex; later smooth, covered with a few fine lenticels which become evident dur* 

 ing second year; pith small and white. 



BUDS — Alternate, 2-ranked or sometimes 3-ranked, brown, naked, hairy. Terminal, lateral 

 leaf and flower buds differ in size and form. Terminal bud is much longer than the others and 

 evidently flattened. Lateral leaf-buds about i of an inch long, closely appressed to twig 

 and located in notch on upper surface of leaf-scars. Flower-buds are lateral along the twig, 

 spherical in outline, about 1/6 of an inch in diameter, very hairy and dark brown; do not stand 

 quite parallel to twig. 



LEAVES — Alternate, t^imple, obovate-lanceolate, 4-12 inches long, thin, pointed at apex, 

 tapering at base, entire on margin, when mature dark green above and paler below. In au- 

 tumn they turn rusty yellow. 



LEAF-SCARS — Alternate, located on enlarged projections of the twig, inclined at about an 

 angle of 35 degrees to the twig, broadly U-shaped, almost surround bud, somewhat lighter than 

 the twig, contain usually 5 bundle-scars which are often compounded. A ridge extends ^•across 

 the le^if-scar from the bud to the base of the scar. 



FLOWERS — Appear about April or May with the leaves but are usually located below then! 



along the twigs. They occur solitary and axillary; are perfect, at first green, later reddish, 

 purple, 1-1* inches wide, and borne on stout hairy stalks. 



FRUIT — Suggests a stubby banana, is cylindrical, rounded, or occasionally blunt-pointed ai 

 the endst 3-5 inches long, at first green, later dark-brown, pulpy, edible, contains many dark* 

 brown, shiny, flattened seeds which are scattered throughout the flesh. ■ 



WOOD — Ring-porous with a diffuse-porous tendency; rays very numerous and distinct; heart- 

 wood brownish; sapwood yellowish; weak, soft, weighs about 25 lbs. per cubic foot. Not used 

 commercially. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Common Papaw can be recognized best in an- 

 tumn by its unique fruit which is very suggestive of a stubby banana. In spring the greenish- 

 brown to reddish-purple flowers which occur solitary along the twigs and measure 1-lJ inches 

 across are also characteristic. The large, tropical-like, alternate leaves will also aid in recog- 

 nizing it. In winter the long, slender, somewhat flattened, naked, brovraish, terminal budi 

 and the spherical flower-buds along the side of the twigs and the U-shaped leaf -scars which almosi 

 surround the buds and usually contains 5 bundle-scars, will enable one to distinguish It 

 The fact that it occurs only in about the southern third of the State may also help in distinguish- 

 ing it. 



RANGE — Western New York and west central New Jersey south to Florida and west tc 

 Michigan, Kansas, and Texas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Locally found in small groups In practically everj 

 county of ti'O State south of a line drawn from Pittsburgh through Harrisburg and Reading t( 

 Doylestown in Bucks county. Not common anywhere but well known on account of its peculiai 

 fruit. Usually found below altitude of 1,000 feet but in the South Mountains in Adams am 

 Franklin counties found at 1,200 feet. 



HABITAT — Prefers rich moist situations. Usually found in river valleys near streams but oc 

 casionally aficends low fertile slopes. It may form dense thickets but In this State usuallj 

 occurs solitary or in rather open groups. Occurs with other species in the nnderstory of thi 

 forest, and is very tolerant of shade. 



IMPORTANCE OF THjS SPECIES — This species is of no commercial Importance as a fores 

 tree anywhere in its range. The fruit which it produces is of more value than Its wood. I'ti 

 never reaches a large size, and In addition is local and limited in Its distribution. It Is, bown 

 



ever, a very attractive tree on account of its somewhat drooping tropical leaves, handsom' 

 Bowel's, and peculiar fruit. 



I 



