The [FRUIT] is an [oblong] [berry] 3 to 6 inches long, and contains a number of large, brown seeds. When ripe it falls to the ground, turning dark brown. The deep yellow flesh is palatable, though some people do not care for its unique flavor. The tree [blooms] and bears as a shrub or tree.
The WOOD is light, weak, and spongy, yellow in color, and is of no known value.
PAWPAW (Leaf, one-fourth natural size; twig, two-thirds natural size)
REDBAY
Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng.
Redbay is native to the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states from Virginia to southeastern and southern Texas and is a member of the Laurel family. In all, about 100 species of Persea are found in North and South America.
Redbay grows to 70 feet in height and 3 feet in diameter, with a well-shaped head of erect, stout, dark green branches. It grows in moist, rich soils along the streams and in swamps and sometimes in drier soils along with longleaf pine, over the coastal region.
REDBAY (Illustrations, two-thirds natural size)
The [aromatic] LEAVES are [oblong], thick or leathery, up to 4 inches in length and 1½ inches in width, bright green with the margin entire and with a narrow, orange-colored [midrib]. They remain green over the first winter. The yellowish-white FLOWERS are in small clusters.