=Fruit=.—Matures in early autumn; oblong, cone-like, composed of numerous brown flat pointed carpels, each bearing a 1-2-seeded nutlet at its base.
=Bark=.—Rough on old trunks, with prominent parallel connected ridges, and deep fissures, light grayish-brown.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, not strong, easily worked, light yellow with creamy white sapwood.
=Range=.—Rhode Island and Michigan, south to Florida and Arkansas, not of commercial size at the extremes of its range.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Found throughout the State below the Spruce belt, rare on the Potomac waters.
=Habitat=.—Prefers rich, moist soil of stream valleys and coves, but adapts itself to less favorable situations.
=Notes=.—This tree, commonly known as Yellow Poplar, is of first importance for forestry purposes; it reproduces readily from the seed, is a rapid grower, and its wood is easily worked and desirable for many purposes.
=Form=.—Height 10-50 feet, diameter 8-12 inches; trunk usually straight and slender, bearing a broad or restricted crown of straight branches.
=Leaves=.—Alternate, simple, thin, obovate-lanceolate, pointed, 4-12 inches long, margin entire, smooth except when young, dark green above, paler beneath.
=Flowers=.—April-May, with the leaves; scattered along the twigs, perfect, 1-1½ inches wide, dark reddish purple, borne on stout hairy stalks.
=Fruit=.—Matures in early autumn; short, cylindric, resembling a banana, 3-5 inches long, with a thin, greenish-yellow skin, enclosing a yellow pulpy edible mass through which is scattered several brown shiny seeds.
=Bark=.—Rather smooth, brown, often blotched, thin and close.
=Wood=.—Light, soft, coarse-grained, brown with yellowish sapwood.
=Range=.—Western New York and central New Jersey, south to Florida and west to Texas, Kansas and Michigan.
=Distribution in West Virginia=.—Scattered groups throughout the State, except in the Spruce belt, and in the higher adjacent sections. Common along the Ohio and Potomac river valleys.
=Habitat=.—Prefers moist soils along streams, but grows well on loamy slopes.
=Notes=.—The Pawpaw or Custard Apple is not important as a forest tree but is interesting and attractive on account of its peculiar fruits. It is very tolerant of shade and is suitable for underplanting where production of wood is not the object.