Asimina longifolia explained

Asimina longifolia, the slim-leaf pawpaw or polecat-bush, is a shrub in the custard apple family. It is native to the Southeastern United States where it is found on the coastal plain. Its preferred habitat is dry pinelands or dry maritime forests.^[1]

There are two named varieties:

• A. longifolia var. longifolia - Only found in Florida and Georgia.
• A. longifolia var. spatulata - Found from southern Alabama to southern South Carolina.

It is unclear if the two varieties should be considered distinct species. This group is in need of further taxonomic study.

Description

It is a small bush 2 to 3 feet in height. Prominent features include long narrow leaves, 4 by inches, and white flowers.^{[2] [3]} Its pollen is shed in permanent tetrads.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2 results for Slimleaf pawpaw. Weakley. A.S.. Southeastern Flora Team. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. University of North Carolina Herbarium, North Carolina Botanical Garden. Chapel Hill. 15 June 2024. 2024.
2. Book: Rafinesque, C. S. (Constantine Samuel) . 1840 . Autikon botanikon . en, la . Philadelphia . 77 . 10.5962/bhl.title.232 .
3. Gray . Asa . 1886 . The Genus Asimina . Botanical Gazette . 11 . 7 . 161–163 . 10.1086/325964. 84972335 .
4. Bailey . I.W. . Nast . Charlotte G. . 1943 . The Comparative Morphology of the Winteraceae I. Pollen and Stamens . Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 24 . 3 . 340–346. 10.5962/p.185481 .