![]() “PawPaws – the Missouri Fruit” by MUExtension417, CC BY-NC 2.0. At archaeological sites, seeds that are not eaten and have been carbonized by fire are most commonly found preserved. Within this pulp are flat seeds that are nearly an inch long (about 2 cm). ![]() The fruit’s custard-like pulp can be either yellow and flavorful or whitish-green and less flavorful, but either is very nutritious and rich in amino acids. You’ll know they are ready when the fruit is soft and very fragrant. You can also shake them from the tree before they are mature, and take them home and wait for them to ripen. The fruit typically softens when ripe, falling from the tree. The pawpaw fruit has thin yellowish-green to brown skin, is cylindrical, and grows alone or in groups of two or four they can grow to be 3 to 7 inches long. The flowers bloom around April/May and change from green to purple/maroon with six petals that curl slightly backwards. The twigs and leaves also contain insecticidal properties that keep it pest resistant. Its large pear-shaped leaves have a scent similar to a bell pepper and will turn yellow before dropping in the fall. The shrub or tree can grow anywhere between 10 and 40 feet tall. You should not be surprised to come upon it locally in Knoxville and the surrounding areas! The name pawpaw is derived from the name papaya, although it is also known by names such as “false banana” or “pawpaw apple.” Despite its tropical appearance and taste, pawpaw is in fact native to Eastern North America and therefore also North America’s largest native fruit. It belongs to the Custard Apple Family (Annonaceae) and is often compared to a papaya with a mellow banana taste. Our September Plant of the Month is pawpaw ( Asimina triloba) because it is currently pawpaw season! Pawpaw is a perennial shrub or tree whose large fruit ripens between the months of August and October. “Asimina triloba” by Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel, CC BY 2.0. McClung Museum of Natural History & Culture > Museum At Home > Plant of the Month > #PlantoftheMonth: Pawpaw.Laboratory of Environmental Archaeology.
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