Walking in a riparian environment I noticed this shrubby smooth little tree. I thought it’s leaves had been burned by a recent spring frost. NOT SO. They aren’t leaves at all. They are the flowers of the Pawpaw. Beautiful small exotic brown flowers. I had forgotten about this long time native to this region of North America. Grows as a clonal colony and doesn’t reproduce well from seed. In the fall the ripe fruit looks, smells, and tastes like a stunted banana.
Gardenpoiesis: Adventures of a Naturalist 