Common Name:

General Information

Annona coriacea is a deciduous shrub or a tree with a globose crown, usually growing 3 - 6 metres tall though there are reports of it reaching 18 metres. The smooth, cylindrical bole can be 20 - 30cm in diameter[, ].
The edible fruits are sometimes gathered from the wild for local use[]. The tree is occasionally grown in garden orchards and can be used within its native range in reforestation projects[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Paraguay, central, eastern and northern Brazil.

Habitat

Scrublands[]. Savannah, usually in sandy and well-drained soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Beetles, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position[]. Prefers a well-drained, sandy soil[]. Grows well in poor soils[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A slow-growing plant, but it can begin flowering and fruiting when only 2 years old[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. A pleasant flavour, the fruit has a fibrous, succulent pulp with a strong aroma and pronounced sweetness[]. The fruit is slightly laxative[]. The large fruit can weigh up to 1.5 kilos.

Medicinal

The seeds are used in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea[, ].

Diterpenes have been isolated from the underground organs[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant grows well, even in poor soils, and its edible fruits are also relished by the native fauna. It makes a good species to grow in reforestation projects of reclaimed and protected areas[].

Other Uses

The wood is light in weight, soft, with low mechanical properties but very durable. Easy to work, but it is of low value and is only used for making cheap objects such as packing cases, toys, pencils etc[].

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 sunny position. Germination rates, even of scarified seeds, are quite low, with the seeds sprouting within 30 - 60 days[]. Plant out when the seedlings are 30cm tall[].

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