Practical
Plants

Asimina triloba

Papaw

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Asimina genus in the family Annonaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Asimina
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
4.5 m
Spread
4 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

The seed contains a toxic alkaloid and is poisonous[2][16]. The leaves can cause dermatitis in a small number of sensitive people[12][16]. Other reports say that handling the fruit can cause dermatitis[11][13].

Edible uses

Edible fruit - raw or cooked[10][17][3][19][22][25]. A very good size, it can be up to 16cm long and 4cm wide[23][11]. Of variable quality, some forms (with orange skins) are exquisite with the flavour of banana custard whilst others (with yellow, white or dark brown skins) can be unpleasant[20][24][8]. Another report says that the white fruits are mildly flavoured and later ripening than the orange fruits[13]. The fruit can also be used for making preserves, pies, ice cream and other sweet desserts[8]. The fruit falls from the tree in autumn and is then stored until fully ripe[13]. The fruit can cause gastro-intestinal upsets for some people[16].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The fruit is used as a laxative[12]. The leaves are diuretic[12]. They are applied externally to boils, ulcers and abscesses[18][12]. The seed contains the alkaline asiminine, which is emetic and narcotic[12][13]. They have been powdered and applied to hair to kill lice[12]. The bark is a bitter tonic[18]. It contains the alkaline analobine, which is used medicinally[13].

Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Parasiticide

Material uses

A fibre from the inner bark is used for making strong rope and string[21][23][13][15]. The seed has insecticidal properties[12]. A yellow dye is made from the ripe flesh of the fruit[14]. Wood - light, soft, weak, spongy, coarse grained[23]. It weighs 24lb per cubic foot[13]. It is not used commercially[14].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
South-eastern N. America - New Jersey to Florida, west to Texas and Nebraska.
Habitat
An understorey tree of woodlands, growing in deep rich moist soils of river valleys and bottomlands, often forming dense thickets[14].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[11]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[5]. Stored seed requires stratification, it has embryo dormancy and an impermeable seedcoat and can take up to 18 months to germinate[4][5]. Dried seed quickly loses its viability. As soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for t least their first winter. If trying them outdoors, plant them into their permanent positions in early summer once the plants are more than 15cm tall. Consider giving them some protection from winter cold for their first winter outdoors. Layering.

Cultivation

Prefers a rich loamy soil with plenty of moisture and a sunny position[1][5][6]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c according to one report[9], whilst another says that they are hardy to -35°c when fully dormant[6]. The papaw produces a delicious edible fruit which is a potentially commercial crop[21]. The wild-collected fruit is often sold in local markets in America[23]. The tree commences bearing in 4 - 6 years from seed and yields up to 30 kilos per tree[6]. There are some named varieties[8]. The mature fruit is rarely seen in Britain[7], only ripening after a long hot summer[11]. A small tree growing against a south-facing wall at Bristol Botanical Gardens had a small crop of immature fruit in early September 1996 (following the hot summer of 1995) - this was the first time it had been seen to bear fruit[K]. Flowers are formed in the leaf axils of wood produced the previous summer[23][14]. Established plants resent root disturbance, the best plants are obtained by planting them out into their permanent positions as young as possible though young plants should be given some protection for their first year or two[11]. The leaves emit a heavy unpleasant odour when crushed[23][14]. Plants are untroubled by pests or diseases[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩

  5. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

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  10. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  11. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  12. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  13. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  14. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  15. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  16. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩

  18. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  19. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  20. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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  21. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  22. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  23. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  24. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩

  25. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

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