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Pawpaw

How to identify Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)

Pawpaw, also known as Papaw, Fetid-bush

Pawpaw is a medium-sized deciduous tree with a spreading habitat and a notable presence in understories. It exhibits broad, oblong leaves that emit a distinctive odor when crushed. In the autumn, these leaves turn a vibrant yellow. The bark of pawpaw is smooth, marked with conspicuous wart-like lenticels that provide a notable texture to the tree's exterior. The adaptive nature of pawpaw allows it to thrive in a range of sunlight exposures, from deep shade to full sun, as long as it is rooted in moist, well-draining, and slightly acidic soils.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Tree, Shrub

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Pawpaw

1

Distinctive cinnamon-brown stem color with soft pubescent texture, lacking bud scales.

2

Oblong, pendulous leaves emitting green pepper odor, vibrant green upper surface, pale underside.

3

Bark transitions from smooth to rugged with scaly ridges, adorned with wart-like lenticels.

4

Burgundy flowers with foul odor, purplish-brown petals, blooming in spring.

5

Unique, custard-like fruit with greenish-yellow hue, bluish glaucous coating, nutritional powerhouse.

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Detailed Traits of Pawpaw

Leaf Features

The leaves of pawpaw are alternate, simple, obovate to oblong, measuring 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long and 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) wide. They emit a green pepper odor when crushed. Arranged in two ranks, they hang pendulously from the stem. The upper surface is a vibrant green, while the underside is pale and glaucous.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Apex

Acuminate

Leaf Margin

Entire

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Flower Features

The flowers of pawpaw are burgundy and bloom in spring. Although not showy, they are purplish-brown with six petals, measuring 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) in diameter. These flowers emit a foul odor as they are pollinated by flies.

Pawpaw Flower image
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Stem Features

The stem of pawpaw is characterized by its cinnamon-brown color, particularly evident on young buds and stems. The texture is pubescent, with a fine layer of soft, downy hairs. The stems are typically slender, with a thickness of about 0.2 to 0.4 inches (5 to 10 mm). The branching pattern is generally sparse but well-defined, contributing to the tree's open and airy structure. Key features include the lack of bud scales and a distinctive pubescence on both buds and stems.

Pawpaw Stem image
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Fruit Features

The fruit of pawpaw is a unique, pulpy delight that ripens from August to October. It has an ovate to cylindrical shape and matures to a greenish-yellow hue with a bluish glaucous coating. The fruit boasts a soft, custard-like interior with a delectable sweetness reminiscent of bananas. It's a nutritional powerhouse and can reach lengths of about 3-6 inches (7.5-15 cm). The presence of a pollinizer is necessary for the fruit to develop, ensuring that each becomes a sumptuous treat for those fortunate to find it.

Pawpaw Fruit image
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Key Facts About Pawpaw

Attributes of Pawpaw
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Tree, Shrub
Plant Height
11 m to 14 m
Spread
4.5 m to 9 m
Leaf Color
Green
Yellow
Flower Size
3 cm to 5 cm
Flower Color
Purple
Red
Brown
Fruit Color
Brown
Green
Copper
Yellow
Gold
The Toxicity of Pawpaw
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Scientific Classification of Pawpaw

Genus
Pawpaws
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Species
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
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Distribution Map of Pawpaw

Pawpaw is a tree native to damp and shady habitats across much of central and eastern North America and it doesn't grow anywhere else in the wild as an introduced species.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
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