The Fruit of a Witch Tree
Harvested in mid-September, the fruit of the pawpaw tree tastes like a mango mixed with banana, definitely tropical and unlike any other fruit indigenous to North America. The oblong, green fruit is a hillfolk favorite, according to Brandon Weston’s Ozark Folk Magic, but the tree it grows on is considered a witch tree with supernatural powers.
The pawpaw attracts the swallowtail butterfly, whose caterpillar feeds on its leaves and perched in its branches once metamorphosed.
“In Ozark folklore, butterflies are often seen as spirits of the dead that have returned to visit their loved ones, so seeing a tree full of these beautiful insects gives the pawpaw an eerie appearance indeed.”