Annona squamosa

About Annona squamosa

Annona squamosa a large, evergreen, straggling, shrub or small tree, 7m in height, introduced into India, found wild and cultivated in various parts, up to an altitude of 900m. Bark thin, grey;ves oblong-lanceolate or elliptic, pellucid-dotted, peculiarly scented, 5.0-15.0cm x 1.9-3.8cm; flowers 1-4, greenish, fleshy, drooping, extra-axillary, more on the leafy shoot than on the older wood, tending to open as the shoot elongates; carpels many, lozenge-shaped, on a central torus, fused into an irregularly globose or heart-shaped, tubercled, yellowish green syncarpium, 5-10cm in diam; seeds oblong, deep brownish black, aril shinning, covered with whitish pulp. The pulp of fruit is used for flavoring in ice-creams. The wood is good source of fuel.the root is drastic purgative.