Pond apple, Monkey apple
Annona glabra
Family: Annonaceae
What it is like
A small to medium sized tree. It grows 6-12 m high. The leaves are simple and 6-25 cm long. They are alternate. They vary in size. The flowers occur singly. The fruit is large and yellow. It is 70-80 mm across. They occur single in the axils of leaves. There are several seeds inside. These are about 12 mm long. The flesh is orange when ripe and edible.
It is not a very edible fruit. There are about 100-150 Annona species. It has anticancer and antioxidant properties.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in a range of tropical countries. It is widely cultivated between 100-200 m altitude in southern China. In Colombia it grows between sea level and 200 m above sea level. It suits the humid lowlands and grows in the mangrove swamps. It can grow in arid places. It can tolerate salt soils. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Aruba, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil (country/location of origin), Cambodia, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Gambia, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hispaniola, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Liberia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Micronesia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Panama, Ponape, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies
How it is used for food
The fruit are used for jellies and eaten raw. The flavour can be improved by boiling. The fruit is often used for juice.
It is popular in fresh fruit drinks in Maldives. It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. The seeds should be planted fresh and are best scratched to break the hard seed coat. Seeds germinate in 50-60 days. Seedlings can be transplanted after 7-8 months.
Its other names
Local names
Anon de agua, Anona de corcho, Araticum-da-agua, Araticum-de-jangada, Araticum-do-brejo, Araticum-do-mangue, Araticum-do-mangue, Araticupana, Baga, Cayuda, Fruta-conde, Gasima, Guanabana cimarrona, Guanabanito de playa, Kalhuthumeyvaa, Kayuda, Pohon apel rawa, Punu, Tiep khnao, Zwampzuurzak
Synonyms
Annona australis A. St.Hil.; Annona chrysocarpa Lepr. ex Guill. & Perr.; Annona klainei Pierre ex Engl. & Diels; Annona klainii Pierre ex Engler & Diels; Annona klainii var. moandensis De Willd.; Annona laurifolia Dunal; Annona palustris Linn.; Annona palustris Small; ? Annona palustris var. grandifolia Mart.; Annona peruviana Humb. & Bonpl. ex Dunal; Annona uliginosa Kunth; Anona pisonis St. Hil. & Tul.; Asimina arborea Raf.; Guanabanus palustris M. Gomez;