Additional notes (click to expand)

Other use

Nature Note: It is the food plant of the caterpillar of the Zebra Swallow Tail butterfly, Eurytides Marcellus. It is poisonous and the butterfly becomes poisonous because the caterpillar feeds on the plant. The fruit is edible and used by Seminole Native Americans to make a tea. The seeds are used as an emetic - they are poisonous which is why ingesting then causes vomiting.

Toxicity

Thought to cause Parkinsonian/Motor neurone disease complex.

Geographical distribution

  • Northern America, Eastern Canada
  • Northern America, North-Central U.S.A.
  • Northern America, Northeastern U.S.A.
  • Northern America, South-Central U.S.A.
  • Northern America, Southeastern U.S.A.

Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal

Family: ANNONACEAE
Genus: Asimina
Species: triloba (L.) Dunal
Distribution summary: North America
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Understorey and margins of evergreen forest
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: North America (A), North America (A)
Flowering months: May, June
Reason for growing: Medicinal, toxic


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