The fruit on this tree has some flat light brown honey colored seeds about maybe 1/2in. long. So far this year I haven't noticed much new foliage or fruit of any kind.

I would post the pics of the seeds I collected from the one fruit on this tree last year, but I hid them away so good from myself for safe keeping and I have yet to remember where I put them..lol. I am waiting patiently, to see what happens with this tree this year. The rain has been good, so maybe there would be more for me to investigate and finally find out what kind of tree this is.

Posted by jahness on 2009-05-01, 05:14:51   Report this as offensive.

The fruit is so out of focus, I couldn't tell at first. Right now in MD, VA and WV, near Washington and Baltimore, there is a tree which is in bud or bloom. The flowers are about an inch across and maroon in color. They are relatively inconspicuous and often near the ends of branches. When the tree is in leaf, the leaves are fairly large, unlobed with entire (untoothed) edges about 8 to 10 inches long by 3 to 5 inches wide and tapering at both ends. The fruit isn't usually noticed until mid to late summer and doesn't ripen til the fall. It has a waxy coating which gives it a blue (glaucous) look. The fruit is usually 3 to 5 inches long and about 2 inches across and oval with both ends rounded. Sometimes there are two or more fruit attached to the same point which have grown from the same flower.

If all these things above are right, check the leaves (bruise them) and you'll get a smell like petroleum. This is the Paw Paw (Asimina triloba). It grows in light shade and moist soil. It usually only keeps its fruit to maturity near streams where the moisture is constant in the summer.

Posted by joem50 on 2009-05-02, 04:05:10   Report this as offensive.

Greetings Joem50!

I have one more pic. It's not great, but maybe you might see the fruit a little better. Joem50, I have been keeping an eye on this tree, I have not noticed any flowers or much foliage as yet for this new spring season. From my humble attempt at researching this unknown tree the only thing I can try and guess it may be is a persimmon. I say that because the seeds I saw when I opened the one fruit look similar to the persimmon, but honestly I have no clue.
I checked the tree last week there still wasn't much leaves of any kind on it. I am hoping it didn't die out on me. But I will check maybe tomorrow and see if there are any changes to report.

I posted another pic at this link
http://photos.gardenweb.com/garden/galleries/2009/05/lonely_fruit.html?cat=name_that_plant

Thanks again Joem50 for all your help and patience.

Posted by jahness on 2009-05-03, 01:49:35   Report this as offensive.

I don't think it's a Persimmon. The native Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) has small, nearly spherical, orange fruit (green when it isn't ripe). The seeds are arranged in a circle with the long way from the stem end to the flower end and the flat sides angled in the circle but toward each other. The flesh is similar to a peach in color and texture.

The Paw Paw has the seeds laying crossway in the oblong fruit with one of the flat sides of the seed facing the stem end and the other facing the flower end. The flesh is a whitish cream color and if you let it ripen, it turns the consistency of vanilla pudding.

Paw Paws are fairly late to start growth. The flower buds open first (right about now in the Wash-Balt area) and then the leaves start to grow (slowly at first).

Posted by joem50 on 2009-05-03, 02:27:57   Report this as offensive.

Greetings Joem50!

Thanks for providing the information on the pawpaw. From the follow up research I have been doing, since you made the suggestion it seems like indeed it could be the pawpaw.

I found these websites on pawpaw research
http://www.pawpaw.kysu.edu/OtherLinksandInformation.htm
http://www.pawpawresearch.com/index.html
It seems as if they are doing research in the area of cancer fighting properties from the pawpaw.

I checked today my tree is still bare, no leaves or anything much. What I will do is continue to research what the pawpaw looks like from seedlings to maturity (flowers, fruits etc.) Hopefully as time goes by I will be able to get more first hand info on this unknown tree. Then I can also see if I have more than one.

Unknown is my code word for this year.lol I have so much trees, plants and all types of things growing on the property that I have yet to find out what they are. But I will with time and patience.

Today I found what looked like a version of a wild strawberry. I took some pics of that and some other unknowns, so they will keep me busy for a while.

Thanks again Joem50!

Peace & Blessings to you.

Posted by jahness on 2009-05-04, 23:36:39   Report this as offensive.