Common Name:

General Information

Annona cacans is a deciduous tree with a large, globose crown; it can grow 10 - 30 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 50 - 70cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood. This is one of the most elegant trees in the genus, and is deserving of cultivation as an ornamental, especially as a street tree[]..
Annona cacans has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - southern and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Semi-deciduous forests[]. Coastal premontane to montane rain forest from sea level to elevations of 1,500 metres. Found in dense primary forests as well as in secondary growth areas[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Beetles, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a sunny position[].
A fast growing tree, it can easily reach 4 metres or more in height within 2 years from seed[].
The tree tends to only produce small crops of fruit[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, , ]. The pulp is succulent and aromatic with a sweet flavour and many seeds[, ]; it is used for making juice, ice cream, and sweets[]. The fruit is slightly laxative, especially if eaten in quantity[, ].The green, oblong fruit can be 13cm long and 11cm wide[, ].

Medicinal

The fruits are purgative[].

Other Uses

The wood is light in weight, not very durable, smooth to work and easy to cut[]. Of low value, it is only used for items such as ceiling boards, boxes and cheap toys[]. It is sometimes used for pulping to make paper[].
The wood is used for fuel, though it is of poor quality[]/

Propagation

Seed - it has a very hard outer layer and germinates much more easily if scarified[]. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the seeds in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers in a lightly shaded position. Germination rates of scarified seeds are usually above 30%, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 80 days[]. Transplant nursery bed sown plants when they are 4 - 6cm tall into individual containers. They should be ready to plant out about 6 months later[].

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