Corticao
Annona cacans

Family: Annonaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 12-16 m high. The crown is smooth and round. The trunk is 50-70 cm across. The bark is thick and peels off. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are simple and shiny. They have leaf stalks. The leaves are 8-17 cm long and 3-6 cm wide. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. They are usually in small groups. The fruit is large and oblong. It can be 14-15 cm long. The seeds are light brown and about 1 cm long. The pulp of the fruit is sweet and juicy.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in highland forests in Brazil. It grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil (country/location of origin), Middle East, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, South America

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten. It is used for juice, ice-cream and sweets. CAUTION: The fruit is laxative if eaten in large amounts.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seed. The seeds are washed out of the ripe pulp with water. Seeds will only store for about 6 months. The dried seeds should be scratched to break the hard seed coat before sowing. Seeds germinate in 40-80 days. Seedlings are transplanted into the field after 6 months.

Plants grow rapidly. They can be 4 m high in 2 years.

Its other names

Local names

Anona cagona, Araticum-cagao, Araticum-de-paca, Araticum-pacari, Coracao-de-boi, Corticeira, Corticeiro, Quaresma

Synonyms

Annona amambayensis Hassl. ex R. E. Fr.; Annona cacans var. glabriuscula R. E. Fr.; Annona cacans subsp. glabriuscula (R. E. Fr.) H. Rainer;