Bullock’s heart
Annona reticulata

Family: Annonaceae

What it is like

A small tree up to 7.5 m tall. It has several branches near the base. Trees loose their leaves at some times of the year. New shoots have short brown hairs but older wood is smooth and shiny. The leaves are long and spear shaped with short leaf stalks. Around the edge of the leaf is a clear edge. The leaves smell when crushed. Flowers are greenish yellow. They occur in groups where the leaves join the stalk. Flowers occur on new wood growth. The fruit are reddish brown in colour and 10-12 cm across. There is a fine hexagonal pattern over the fruit. Inside there are large brown seeds. The fruit are edible but the seeds are not eaten.

There are about 100-150 Annona species. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in the tropical lowlands and grows up to at least 1200 m altitude. In Colombia it grows between 500-1,900 m above sea level. It can grow on poorer soils with different levels of acidity. It cannot stand water-logging. It suits humid climates. It is less suited to dry climates. It can grow in arid places. In Nepal it grows to 900 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Amazon, Andamans, Angola, Antilles, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America (country/location of origin), China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Marshall Is., Martinique, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Tonga, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin), West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit is eaten fresh. They are also used for preserves, drinks, ice cream, custards and other desserts CAUTION: The seed kernel is poisonous.

It is a cultivated fruit tree. Commonly seen on Manus Island and in some other coastal areas in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are normally grown from seeds. Seedling trees vary quite a bit. Seedlings are easy to transplant. A spacing of 4-7 m is suitable. Better kinds can be grown using budding or grafting.

Trees begin fruiting at 3-5 years. Fruit setting is often improved by hand pollination. Fruit mature in about 200 days. Fruit can vary from 0.25 to 2.25 kg each. The fruit has 13% sugar. Fruit production is seasonal. A tree may bear 100-150 fruit in a season. The season is normally Dec. to March.

Its other names

Local names

Aanti, Aata, Anona colorado, Anonas, Ata, Atha, Attha, Balam, Chotka salifa, Condessa, Coracao-de-boi, Corazon, Corossol, Fat manao, Fat manaova, Fruto-conde, Gishxaa, Kasjoema, Keradebefo, Kisitaffeeli, Krishna-beejam, Lavani, Madargamja, Mamon, Neoa, Netted custard apple, Noi-nah, Nona ata, Nona kapri, Ox heart, Ramasita, Ramphal, Ramsitha, Sacha anona, Sitafal, Sita phal, Thinbaw-awza, Uto ni bulamakau, Voankobohobo, Weli-attha

Synonyms

Annona excelsa Kunth.; Annona humbodtiana Kunth.; Annona humboldtii Dun.; Annona laevis Kunth; Annona longifolia Sesse & Moc.; Annona lutescens Saff. Annona primigenia Standl. & Steyerm.; Annona reticulata var. primigenia (Standl. & Stererm.) Lundell; Annona riparia Kunth.;