Asimina tetramera

Asimina tetramera, commonly known as the four-petal pawpaw, is a rare species of small tree or perennial shrub endemic to Martin and Palm Beach Counties in the state of Florida. The species is currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and as endangered by the International Union for Conservation. The four-petal pawpaw is part of the Annonaceae family alongside other Asimina species. A. tetramera grows to between 1 to 3 meters tall with one or more branches. Mature flowers are maroon with some pink streaks and the fruit is yellow-green. It usually has six petals and four sepals. It lives exclusively in sand pine scrub habitat on the Atlantic Coast Ridge. A. tetramera is pollinated primarily by beetles which feed on tissue on the surface of its stamens and on the inner surface of its petals. A. tetramera is a fire adapted species. The shrub grows best without the presence of a taller plant canopy shading it. A wildfire may remove these plant canopies to allow for the four-petal pawpaw to flourish. With the return of a shading canopy, the plant growth slows. The removal of the above-ground parts of the plant allows it to grow after a disturbance such as wildfire. The small range of A. tetramera has been threatened by habitat loss and fire suppression for decades. Human development and disruptive activities has removed suitable land where the species can live. Also, the prevention of wildfires in Florida has limited its ability to grow and reproduce. Work is being done to protect and restore the four-petal pawpaw and its habitat. By protecting existing populations, performing controlled burns, and planting new A. tetramera within its native range, conservationists hope to prevent this rare shrub from going extinct.

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