Annona squamosa

Annona squamosa is a small-sized and deciduous fruit tree growing up to 6-8 m high.

The bark of Annona squamosa is light brown-coloured, rough with shallow longitudinal furrows.

The leaves of Annona squamosa grow alternately on the stem (spirally arranged).
The leaf is simple, bright green-coloured above and paler beneath. The leaf is coriaceous and glabrous on both sides.
The leaves have a 1.5 cm long petiole.
The leaf of Annona squamosa is 10-20 cm long and 4-7 cm wide. The shape of the blade is elliptic or lanceolate, the apex is acute or acuminate, the base is cuneate and the margins are entire.
The venation of the leaf is reticulate with a prominent midrib.

The flowers of Annona squamosa are axillary and solitary.
The calyx is composed of 3 triangular, 2 mm long and 3 mm wide sepals. The calyx is light green-coloured.
The corolla is composed of 3 cream-coloured and light-green petals. The petals are fleshy, oblong, 2-2.5 cm long and 6-7 mm wide.
The androecium is composed of numerous and short stamens.
The pistils are also numerous.
The flowers are fragrant.
 

The fruit of Annona squamosa is a round or ovate syncarp. It is about 5-10 cm in diameter with many protuberances. The aggregate fruit of Annona squamosa is green-coloured with a white, sweet and edible pulp inside.

The seeds of Annona squamosa are dark brown or blackish-coloured, ovate and about 1 cm long and 0.5-0.6 cm wide. Each seed is embedded in a white pulp.

The unripe fruits, seeds and leaves of Annona squamosa have effective vermicidal and insecticidal properties.

The oil extracted from the seeds has been employed against agricultural pests.

Sources : 
- Orwa C., Mutua A., Kindt R., Jamnadass R., Anthony S., 2009, Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide
- Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annona_squamosa

Annona squamosa is a popular seasonal fruit with great economic importance in a number of tropical countries.