Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)

Alternative Names
Common Pawpaw, Custard Apple, and Wild Banana
Description of Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), a member of the Annonaceae (Custard Apple Family), is a small understory deciduous tree that can form clones or patches. The fruits of this plant are edible and can be eaten raw or in ice cream and baked desserts. Many varieties of this plant are present in the horticultural trade.
More information about this understory tree can be found on this blog post.
Hosted Species
Zebra Swallowtail (Protographium marcellus)

Nectar Species
This species is a nectar plant for a lot of other insects and is also an important food plant for small mammals and birds.
Habitat
This species grows in the understories of mixed hardwood forests that have partial shade.
Range of Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) in the United States and Canada
Interesting Facts
The Annonaceae is a tropical family of plants and the pawpaw is the northernmost growing representative of it. The name comes from the Arawaken name for Papaya, a tropical fruit (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center). The genus name is a Latinized version of the French name of the indian name (Missouri Botanical Garden).
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