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Genus: Annona
Life
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Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants)
> magnoliids > Order: Magnoliales > Family: Annonaceae
About 110 species, native mainly to
tropical America but with four species native to tropical Africa of which
two occur in
southern Africa. An additional four species are cultivated in the region.
Species native to southern Africa
List from
Plants
of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI),
Flora of Zimbabwe and
Flora of
Mozambique.
Annona senegalensis (Wild
custard apple) Native to West, East and southern Africa
as well as Madagascar, the Comores and Cape Verde Islands. Within southern
Africa, recorded from Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and South Africa
(Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal). |
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Annona stenophylla
(Dwarf custard-apple) Native distribution includes Angola,
DRC, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nambia and Botswana. |
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Other species, cultivated in southern Africa
List from Glen (2002).
Annona cherimola (Cherimola, Custard apple) The
Cherimola is a small tree with scaly-looking fruits that are about 10-12 cm
in diameter. It is native to the subtropical highlands of Peru and
Ecuador and is widely cultivated in Central America as well as subtropical
and tropical regions elsewhere. The flesh of the fruit is eaten raw or used
ice cream, milkshakes, jams, jellies and yoghurt. As the fruits do not last
long once picked, they are mainly sold on local markets. Although Cherimola
has been grown in southern Africa, it is rarely encountered in this region. |
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Annona
muricata (Soursop, Guanábana)
The Soursop is a tree of up to 8 m high bearing large
thorny-surfaced 'custard apple' fruit, weighing up to 3 kg each. The flesh
in these fruits can be eaten raw, but more commonly is used in fruit juices
and softdrinks. It is also used in ice creams, sorbets and jellies. Soursop
is native to the tropical lowlands of Central America and is now
cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. It is rarely
encountered as a cultivated tree in southern Africa. |
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Annona reticulata (Bullock's
heart)
Native to the tropical lowlands of Central America. |
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Annona squamosa (Sweetsop, Sugar
apple)
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Publications
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