Scientific name
Annona L.
Common names
pond apple, alligator apple, swamp apple, corkwood, monkey apple, cow apple, mangrove anona, bullock's heart, bobwood
Family
Annonaceae
Native distribution
tropical Americas, West Africa, and Sri Lanka
Species cultivated
Annona glabra L.
Adventive distribution
Annona glabra is introduced into tropical Asia, Australia and several Pacific islands.
Weed status
significant weed in some countries
Habit
shrub to tree
Brief description
Semi-deciduous tree. Trunk base commonly buttressed; bark grey, with prominent lenticels. Leaves alternate, petiolate; leaf blade ovate to elliptic, glabrous; apex acute to shortly acuminate; base attenuate to rounded; margin entire; venation pinnate. Flowers solitary in leaf axils; pedicellate; cream or pale yellow with a red center; sepals 3, broadly ovate, apiculate; petals 6, in 2 whorls; outer petals ovate-cordate, inner petals oblong-ovate; stamens numerous, packed into a ball; stigmas sticky, deciduous. Fruit a large syncarp, round to ovoid, yellow to orange when ripe, pulp pinkish-orange, pungent-aromatic.
Natural habitat
fresh or brackish wetlands; swamps, mangrove communities, banks of creeks, streams and rivers
Additional comments
Though Annona has over 150 species, Annona glabra is the only species found in estuarine habitats. It is frequently cultivated for use as grafting stock for other Annona species with more desirable fruit.
