Pawpaw Preserve in Palm Beach County, Florida, spans just 3 acres and is recognized as the state's smallest natural area. Its chief purpose is to protect the endangered four-petal pawpaw, Asimina tetramera, with about 37 to 39 plants growing there in a population that appears stable. The preserve also supports at least 41 native South Florida plant species and 42 native animals, including Opuntia stricta, West Indian mahogany, the gopher tortoise, and the red widow spider. To sustain this habitat, the land is periodically mowed to mimic the ecological effects of fire, which are necessary for the pawpaw's reproduction.