Trees or shrubs, with alternate and entire leaves, and solitary, axillary, perfect, hypogynous flowers. Sepals 3. Petals 6, in two sets, deciduous. Stamens numerous. Carpels few or many, fleshy in fruit.

1. Asim'ina, Adans

North American Papaw. A. tril'oba, Dunal. (Common Papaw.) Found only in the Niagara Peninsula. A small tree, not unlike a young beech in appearance, and forming thickets near Queenston Heights. Flowers purple, appearing before the leaves; the three outer petals much larger than the three inner ones. Fruit 2 to 3 inches long, edible.