Sounds like the one is ripe. How do you know its not asimina reticulata? Don't eat the seeds. I've had asimina parviflora, which was bland. Reticulata might taste good, not sure about obovata.

Gary

Ummm, I don't think our native pawpaws are really meant to be eaten by humans. They are far too small, no? The big pawpaws that they grow further north produce big fuits that are supposedly good to eat. Perhaps they are the Parvaflora?

Anyway, the fruit contains seeds that will give you more pawpaws. This plant is becoming scarce in many areas. Why not plant the fruit in a pot and give the new plants to your friends and neighbors.

I'm sure you know that pawpaws are almost the only plant that the Zebra Swallowtails can use to lay their eggs. In the south the Soursop is the only other plant used by this butterfly, but it is even more rare than the pawpaw.

I am not familiar with the different kinds of this plant. I assumed that all of these fruits were edible, though you are correct this is too small.

I think this is a great idea... I will try to collect the seeds.. but I believe they need some stratification? (again maybe some kinds..??) so do you know if they do need it and how to handle the seed ?

Thanks

They are all edible, but with high variability on quality, most of which not that good in peninsular Florida. Supposedly the the reticulata tastes somewhat good. I think the plant wants anything (or anyone) to eat them that's going to poop the seed somewhere it can grow. Parviflora's leaves are shaped way different than reticulata and obovata, also, where in Florida makes a big difference as some kinds are specific to certain areas. I think you're right about stratification helping with germination for them. The seeds keep well if saved. The plants don't transplant well at all. I have reticulata on my property, maybe 20 or so plants. have one parviflora, had two but one died.

Gary

fagopher I live in zone 9 and should be able to grow Asimina obovata (flag) paw paws, if I had the seeds. Do you have any seeds available?
I would like to try growing them in the Galveston Texas area, and maybe keep this endangered species alive.

mm.. I was not able to gather any seeds... and I think there is no fruits left... let me check again if I can find any... but otherwise you need to remind me next fruit season...

Cheers

pappy r, I live in Florida and have some pawpaw seeds to spare. PM me if you still want some to try growing.
FYI, in Asia, they are common and we call them papaya.

Not sure if we are talking of the same plant... there is also Papaya.. I think sometimes called pawpaw... that is a fast growing herb tree and produces the papaya fruit sold in groceries... I believe this one is not endangered...

I might be wrong though..

btw.. I checked and no fruits at all.. so have to wait till next year...

Cheers

I tried growing pawpaw once with no success in zone 10 Naples. It's the only native fruit in North America (so I read) and attracts the zebra SW as said above. Got mine from mailordernatives in No. FL.

Maybe I'll try again.

There is someone selling grafted hybrid (named) pawpaw (can't find the website right now) but I wanted butterfly not human food :-) It likes part shade (understory) and moist conditions.

fagopher, That is a wonderful response.. I'll mark my calendar and contact you next year.
I'll want to plant them in my front yard, (for the showy flowers)
My E-mail is frathbun@aol.com, if you want to contact me.

fagopher, I found this on the seed forum, it might apply to the flag paw paw.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/seed/msg0300141713378.html

Again, please note the zone they are in. Our native paw paws(Obovata, reticulata, pygmea) will not need cold stratification. They will benefit from being kept damp, however, and they may benefit from stratification also.

Tom, I'm a little embarrassed, I should have noticed the difference in temperature zones, however as you point out,a little stratification wouldn't hurt, as long as they are kept moist.
As for the Zebra, we are just a little West of their normal range, but with the planting of Paw paw trees from the North becoming more prevalent locally, possibly we can have our share of Zebras too.
Ripe paw paws shouldn't be poisonous, altho green ones sometime cause gastric distress in some people, according to what I have found so far on the net.