The tropical/subtropical fruit that Australians call pawpaw (Carica papaya) is known as papaya in the US. Americans have their own pawpaw (or papaw)—Asimina triloba—a completely different species, native to the eastern United States and southern Ontario, Canada.

Interestingly, though we’re Australian, the traditional folk song my mother taught me as a child—“Pick ‘em up pawpaws, put ‘em in your pocket, way down yonder in the pawpaw patch”—is of American origin. The ‘patch’ refers to Asimina triloba‘s characteristic patch-forming clonal growth habit. And presumably the fruit that one picks up has fallen to the ground, and one’s apron pocket is roomy.

I’d like to try American pawpaw. I think custard apples are delicious, so I’m sure I’d like them.