In my neck of the woods, there’s a particular tree that grows in the understory.
It’s not a very big tree, but it’s doing something that has recently caught my attention: It’s becoming much more abundant.
On the surface, this looks like a wonderful thing.
Known as pawpaw (Asimina triloba), this native tree produces a highly prized edible fruit. It also serves as a host plant for the zebra swallowtail.
But looks can be deceiving.
The recent increase in pawpaw numbers may actually reflect broader, deeper changes within eastern forests.
What are these changes, and why exactly is pawpaw winning in the 21st century?
In a brand-new video, I visit a humid, buggy bottomland forest to explore these questions.
Thanks for reading and watching!
— Adam Haritan
Paths I Walk 