Common Pawpaw

Asimina triloba

Description

The Asimina triloba or pawpaw is part of the Annonaceae family (custard apple). The pawpaw is a
perennial tree or shrub (whether it is a tree or a shrub depends on the habitat it lives in.) grows from 3
to 12 m tall, has a short trunk with other branches stemming off. Its leaves are alternate, grow anywhere
from 10 to 30 cm long, have a course texture, dark green in color and turn brown and gold during the
fall. Its flowers emerge before the leaves in mid-spring, are dark green at first and eventually turn dark
purple or maroon in color. Each flower has three sepals and six petals (each turning slightly backwards).
The pawpaw requires cross pollination, pollination may be by flies and beetles. Its mango-like fruit is
oblong, cylindrical,7-16 cm long, yellowish green to brown, and large (5 to 16 ounces). The fruit ripens
between August and October. Its pulp is yellow, custard like, and taste like a combination of banana,
mango, and pineapple.

Habitat

The pawpaw can be found in twenty five states including Ohio. Pawpaw’s grow in fertile soil (usually
bottomlands), but can also grow in upland areas on rich soil. Pawpaw’s grow in humid climates, are frost
tolerant and grow in thick clusters.
Characteristics

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Order: Magnoliales

Family: Annonaceae – Custard-apple family

Genus: Asimina Adans

Species: Asimina trilob – Pawpaw