THE BIG TREES AND SHRUBS OF MICHIGAN 40. Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal Pawpaw

摘要

The largest known Pawpaw tree in Michigan is located in the city of Paw Paw in Van Buren County in the southwest part of the Lower Peninsula. (The common name is usually spelled as one word, or sometimes hyphened as Paw-paw. The name of the city, by contrast, is officially two words, even though it is named for the tree.) Description of the species: The Pawpaw belongs to the Annonaceae or Custard Apple family of the order Magnoliales. This is mostly a sub-tropical and tropical family. The only representative in Michigan is the Pawpaw. This tree can be recognized by its large, simple, alternate leaves with prominent veins and short thick petioles (see Fig. 1).)The large (3-4 cm across) dark reddish-purple flowers appear in mid-spring and have 3 sepals, 6 petals, numerous stamens and 3-5 ovaries. The large edible fruit ripens in the fall. It is yellow-green at first, turning to brown or black later. The fruit is a large berry which may grow to be 5-12 cm long and 2-6 cm thick. The tree is infrequent in southern Michigan where it reaches the northern limits of its range. The fruits may be eaten raw and may be made into a variety of desserts. Some people find it to be quite sweet. Others find the taste to be rather revolting.