Woolly Pawpaw

asimina incana

The Woolly Pawpaw (Asimina incana), also known as the polecat pawpaw, is a charming, resilient dwarf shrub endemic to the sandy pine flatwoods and coastal plains of Florida and Georgia. Unlike its towering northern relative, this species stays close to the ground, reaching heights of only one to two meters. In early spring, it produces a spectacular show of large, pendulous white or cream-colored flowers that contrast beautifully with the charred undergrowth of its fire-prone habitat. This hardy plant is a vital component of the southeastern scrub ecosystem, serving as an evolutionary lifeline for local insect species. For native plant enthusiasts and wild foragers, the woolly pawpaw is a highly prized find, celebrated for both its ecological importance and its sweet, edible, banana-like fruits that mature in the heat of the summer.

生息地: Found in dry, sandy soils of pine flatwoods, oak scrub, and sandhills throughout the southeastern United States.

外見

This low-growing shrub is easily identified by its young twigs and leaves, which are covered in a soft, woolly, rust-colored or grayish pubescence. The leaves are oblong to obovate, growing up to 10 centimeters long with smooth margins. Its most striking feature is the large, nodding flower, boasting three large outer petals that are white to creamy-white, occasionally flushed with pink or purple at the base. The fruit is an oblong, green berry that turns yellow-green when ripe, measuring around 5 to 8 centimeters in length, resembling a small, plump banana.

界Plantae門Tracheophyta綱Magnoliopsida目Magnoliales科Annonaceae属Asimina

Woolly Pawpaw

カテゴリ

植物

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

最初にスナップしよう！

おもしろい事実

Crushed leaves of this species release a highly unusual scent that has been described as a mix of gasoline, green peppers, and asphalt.

Despite its small size, the sweet, custard-like pulp of the woolly pawpaw fruit is fully edible and is a favorite snack of local forest wildlife.

The flowers of the woolly pawpaw emit a subtle, yeasty aroma that attracts flies and beetles for pollination rather than typical sweet-seeking bees.

特殊能力

It features a deep, robust taproot system that allows the plant to quickly resprout and bloom after frequent wildfire cycles.

The foliage produces potent chemical compounds called annonaceous acetogenins, protecting it from most herbivorous insects.

The dense, woolly hairs covering young leaves reduce water loss from transpiration under the intense subtropical sun.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 100-200 cm
寿命: 10-30 年

食性と食事

As a photoautotroph, the woolly pawpaw synthesizes its own energy from sunlight via photosynthesis, drawing water and essential minerals through its deep root system.

主な食物

Sunlight
Water
Carbon dioxide
Soil nutrients

生態系とのつながり

host plant

Zebra Swallowtail

Protographium marcellus

Serves as an essential host plant for caterpillars of the Zebra Swallowtail butterfly, which rely solely on pawpaw species for survival.

eaten by

Gopher Tortoise

Gopherus polyphemus

Gopher tortoises sharing the sandy pine sandhills occasionally feed on the fallen, ripe sweet fruits of the woolly pawpaw.

mutualism

Hairy Flower Beetle

Trichiotinus piger

Beetles crawl inside the scented flowers, feeding on pollen and effectively pollinating the shrub in a mutualistic relationship.

特徴

このオブジェクトにはまだ特徴バッジが割り当てられていません。

別名

まだ別名はありません。

コレクション

テーマが追加されると、このオブジェクトのコレクションがここに表示されます。

安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

Woolly Pawpawを見分けるには？

Woolly Pawpawを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

Woolly Pawpawの長さは何ですか？

100-200 cm

Woolly Pawpawの寿命は何ですか？

10-30 年

Woolly Pawpawは何を食べますか？

As a photoautotroph, the woolly pawpaw synthesizes its own energy from sunlight via photosynthesis, drawing water and essential minerals through its deep root system.

Woolly Pawpawは通常どこに生息していますか？

Found in dry, sandy soils of pine flatwoods, oak scrub, and sandhills throughout the southeastern United States.