Annona squamosa

Sugar apple

 

Delicious fruit

                                                                               

 

Annone, attier, pomme cannelle, cachiman cannelle, pommier cannelle, mukonokono, Ponm kannèl, sugar apple, apple bush, sweet sop, custard apple, Anona, anòn, rinon, saramuya, menona …

 

Family

 

ANNONACEAE

 

Origin

 

Tropical America

 

Description

 

 

Small, gnarled tree. The elliptic leaves have rounded bases. The flowers are whitish and produce round, scaly, green or violet fruit that contain a white pulp surrounding the seeds. The fuit is very sweet.

Flowering from April to July.

 

Habitat

 

Dry, sandy areas, cultivations

 

Propagation

Seeds

 

Culture and care

 

The propagation is done by sowing on the surface, the seeds rise in a month.

It prefers dry climates, it is not useful to have a deep soil, as its rooting remains superficial, but draining and sunny exposure. He can stand the spray and the wind. 

It easily supports subtropical climates and even a few days at 0°C. (Alt. 0-150m)

 

Uses

 

 

- Medicinal use

 

 

Against stomach ache : Decoction of 30g of young leaves in 1L water. Cover the recipient, let boil for 5 minutes. Let cool, filter and drink 1 cup 3-4 times a day (Source: TRAMIL).

 

Against the gazs or colds : Decoction of 50 fresh leaves (10g) or aerial parts  (30g) in 1L of water, boil for 10min in a covered container, let cool, filter and drink 1 cup 3 to 4 times a day (Source: TRAMIL).

  

Toxicity

 

 

Avoid the prolonged consumption of leaves (not more than one year). Do not employ women who are pregnant, nursing, or with children under 12 years of age.

 

- Ornemental use

 

 

Very nice small tree. Can be planted as a single plant.

  

- Alimentary use

 

Raw fruit, juice, sorbets

 

- Other uses

  

The seeds have insecticidal properties In some countries the crushed seeds  are used to fight lice.

  

Etymology

 

The Annona name comes from the haïtian name and squamosa means with scale, like the fruits.