Asimina triloba Syn. Uvaria triloba
Family: Anonaceae
Perennial deciduous tree, hardy to -20 degrees. Native to Central
and Southern United States. America's largest edible fruit, the banana-like
Paw Paw grows on a small understory tree, frequenting the creeks and hollow
of the Appalachias and the gardens of an odd class of exotic fruit officianados.
The tree itself, with its giant, drooping, dog's tongue leaves, looks like
an escapee from the tropical rainforest, which it may well be. Tasting
sometimes delicious, sometimes terrible, the Paw Paw was well known to
Native Americans and early settlers as a survival food and as a sedative
and laxative medicine. The tincture of the seed is a bitter tonic
and vermifuge, unpleasantly emetic in high dosage. The leaves are
pulverized into a poultice, used to bring boils to a head and as an application
to speed the healing of skin ulcers. Modern researchers have continued
the ages-old tradition of unlocking the hidden attributes of this oddly
attractive tree by attempting to isolate anti-cancer compunds from the
bark and twigs. Much of this research is being conducted by Dr. Desmond
Layne at Kentucky State University in Frankfort. Cultivation:
Extra care. The stored seed must be kept cold and moist. Sow
in fall or spring. At first, the seed forms a thick, branching root
and then after 2 to 3 months sends up a fast-growing stem and leaves.
Grow seedlings out for one year in gallon pots and transplant to landscape
in the spring. Prefers rich, well-drained, slightly acid (pH 5.5-6.5)
soil and some shade. Grows to 10 to 25 feet tall.
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