Dwarf custard apple
Annona stenophylla subsp. nana

Family: Annonaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1.5 m tall. The leaf blades are 6-12 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. They are papery and have no or short leaf stalks. The flowers are yellow to orange. The fruit are heart shaped and dark orange. The fruit are about 3-4 cm long.

There are about 100-150 Annona species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in burnt out grasslands in savannah. It is near the edges of swamps. It is usually on sand. In southern Africa it grows 1,000-1,500 m altitude. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. The skin is peeled off. The fruit are added to meat broth. Green fruit is cooked before eating.

It is a staple food in Botswana and Namibia.

Edible parts

Aril, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bororo, Dhui, Maroro, Ububese

Synonyms

Annona nana Exell;