Lo and behold, my mystery flower is a Pawpaw Tree!
Four-Petal - Asimina tetramera
The Four-Petal Paw Paw prefers being in a Sand Pine Scrub Ecosystem. It is endangered due to habitat destruction from over development.
I appreciate all of the wonderful comments and good ideas but I actually found the answer in an old 1938 book that I had on my bookshelf, Florida Wild Flowers by Mary Francis Baker.
I love old books!
Even though the illustration wasn’t the best, I could still tell.
I love a challenge and a good ‘google search’. But on Sunday afternoon I stretched out on the sofa with some old wildflower books and found a positive ID!
We had gone back over to Ross Prairie and to the Florida Trails that are nearby to look at each and every plant.
To make it even more challenging, some of the twiggy ‘trees’ or shrubs had blooms with only 3 petals.
Some of the centers were different too.
One even had purple inner petals which I thought was gorgeous.
Once I knew what it was, I found lots of references to it being here in Florida. I enjoyed reading the website, Walking with the Alligators (HERE) and learned a lot from the gator woman!
The Survival Gardener has some great information on it HERE !
I want to thank Michael E. Abrams from Florida Wildflowers too. I wrote him, gave him my blog address and told him where I had found the flower. He was nice enough to write back on Monday morning and confirm my positive identification! WHEW! I was so happy!
“Picking up Paw Paws, put ‘em in my pocket;
Picking up Paw Paws, put ‘em in my pocket;
Picking up Paw Paws, put ‘em in my pocket;
Way down yonder in the Paw Paw Patch”
Do you remember that song? I think we sang and danced it with Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Green Jeans!
I’m joining Thankful Thursdays
and Wildflower Wednesday.
Come on down!
I found the Paw Paw Patch!
.JPG)
39 comments:
Mystery Solved by good old detective work, Diane. I do remember singing that little ditty as a child.
That is a great story. So glad you found the name and shared it. That my dear is why I still have lots and lots of books at my house!!!
when i saw your title i started singing the song, it is as old as I am, and that is old. we saw paw paws in KY but did not know they grow here in Florida. now we know. i left KY in 1959 so don't remember the tree or flower, just the paw paws.. good job on finding it in the book
Neat!! A friend of mine has one but I've not seen one in person. You can eat the fruit, I guess. :)
Diane, I love that you now know the name of your new found plant . Oh my gosh, I remember that kid song too. LOL. Blessings for more good finds, xoxo, Susie
Good job! It's really a beautiful one -- and good research too!
i love that nature inspires us and that you have had so much fun with this!!
i don't remember that song but i enjoyed this just the same!!!
That is amazing! I remember eating paw paws when I was a kid but don't remember liking them very well. They tasted like over-ripe bananas to me. So glad you have solved the mystery! HUGS!
How exciting it is to find what you research. I love old books also.
I have a old book of John James Audubon with original drawings, it has birds and plants.
I do remember the song! I also remember Captain Kangaroo, I never missed an episode. I loved when the ping pong balls fell on him!
Paw paws... not something I would have guessed. I had no idea what they looked like, but I didn't picture a tree! Since the song mentions a paw paw patch, I guess I thought they were like strawberries.
Beautiful flowers. And does it make fruit worth eating?? Still patiently watching our bananas.
Yep--I remember the song and did see both of those shows atime or two--
but wasn't really in tv alot growing up!
Glad you were able to name that flower--it is always good to know the names--on my walk today I seen a different bird (no camera-hadn't planned on going for a walk) and I need to get my bird books out and see if I can find him in one of them--
enjoy,di
I am so glad that you found the name! And thanks for letting us know.
How great you found out what this flower is called. I never heard of it before.
LOL... YES, when I saw Paw-Paw I started singing that little song from my childhood. Perhaps it was the Captain who taught it to us.
At least you can now sigh and relax, the search is finally over. I have long been doing that ever since, post in blog and in FB groups specialized groups and it really is fulfilling after finding the ID. Once my orchid was identified by a blogger from Australia, again another one from a foreigner living in the Philippines. But i guess there is another plant called pawpaw in other countries but not that one, good you have the Sci name exactly there. Thanks.
I love your love of old books, and their wonderful illustrations. More publishers and authors sh ould include illustrations, don't you think so? Have a nice day...Maggie
What about picking a pawpaw from the song "Bare Necessities" from Jungle Book?
Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big pawpaw
Have I given you a clue ?
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
----------------------------
I grew up with Captain Kangaroo...my kids grew up with the Jungle Book.
Jeannie@GetMetoTheCountry.blogspot.com
I'm so glad you figured out what they are and that is a very neat old book too! You and I and our "old books"......ha ha LOL Hope you're having a good week your way. I've definetly heard of the paw paws, but really wasn't sure what they were, LOL
I have never heard of the pawpaw tree, though I am sure I have seen it on our many trips to Florida. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, I am so glad to know what it is!
Have a wonderful day!
Thanks for the update so we all now know what a paw paw tree looks like.
Yes, I do remember singing that song. In fact my first grade sang it in a school play! I loved Captain Kangaroo. Did you know that he was one of the people who was the clown ClaraBell on Howdy Doody?
Well that is the prettiest tree and Paw Paw is a wonderful name! I too love learning about things in nature with wildflowers being my favorite. I have several books on them. Hugs!!
;]
It sure is a beautiful flower! How wonderful that some old fashioned detective work helped you to figure out what kind of flower it is! And nice to meet folks along the way helping you to try and figure it out! Always so fun :) Have a lovely day :)
I should have guessed. When I was a kid we had a paw paw patch on our farm and I ate a lot of them. As a matter of fact, I would like one now. :)
So pleased you were able to find out and share with us ...
All the best Jan
I admire you detective work. I remember my father-in-law telling me about paw paw trees. Thanks for linking up today and have a great weekend!
Oh, how pretty! Glad you were able to identify it! Love the old botanical book, too. Happy weekend! hugs xo Karen
I do remember that song ... and what a coincidence you should mention Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Green Jeans - my Mom and I were talking about those shows just the other day.
Paw paws also make me think of the bear song from Mowgli!
Beautiful! It's so unique! Amazing where you can find answers if you look in the right place.
Life lessons. ;)
I never heard of it before... but I vaguely remember a referal to a pawpaw patch! Plant one in your yard! - help them make a comeback :-)
Wowww beautiful ...happy weekend enjoy love Ria x đŸ’œ
Mystery solved! You can now rest easy :-)
Amalia
xo
Hello Diane!:) Well I never, a Paw Paw tree! Your persistence paid off, and you were right. At first when I saw the illustration, I thought "Looks like it, but it only has three leaves", but as I read on, you showed us that there are four and three leaved flowers on the same tree. How cool is that!! Congrats on finding the ID. None of us knew what it was, so it was a rare find. It's just a shame that the pretty flowers hang their heads down, isn't it!
I'm glad you discovered the tree's identity. You should feel proud for doing it on your own! I have never seen or eaten a paw-paw and couldn't tell one from anything. The flowers are pretty, though.
You are the Plant Detective. Now I know what a Paw Paw looks like.
Hi,
This is so interesting. I love the name. Why is it called a Paw Paw? Do the flowers have a scent?
You are a good detective. :-)
Carla
Great ID work Diane! I’m so impressed.
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