Papaw
Asimina triloba · Annonaceae (Custard Apple family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Obovate to obovate-lanceolate with an acute to abruptly pointed tip
Margin
Entire (smooth)
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate with prominent raised midribs and primary lateral veins
Key Features
Large, drooping obovate leaves with entire margins; crushed leaves and twigs have a somewhat unpleasant, fetid, or tomato-like odor; distinctive maroon spring flowers and large oblong greenish-yellow fruits with large flat seeds
Habitat
Rich, moist, deep soils of floodplains, bottomlands, shaded ravines, and deciduous forest understories
Native Range
Native to eastern, southern, and midwestern United States, extending from New York and southern Ontario west to Nebraska, and south to Florida and eastern Texas
Identified on 10/12/2026