Common Name: Posh-te

General Information

Annona liebmanniana is a vigorous, evergreen tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall, but is more commonly 15 - 20 metres tall[, ].
Said to be one of the most flavourful and refreshing fruits in a genus of delicious fruits, it is often gathered from the wild, mainly for local use[]. The plant is sometimes cultivated for its fruit, mainly within it native range[, , ].
Annona liebmanniana has a wide range and is found in multiple locations. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central America - south Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras.

Habitat

Moist or wet, mixed forest at elevations of 1,800 metres or less, chiefly near sea level[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Beetles, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moister, lowland tropics, usually growing near sea level but also found at elevations up to 1,800 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23 - 26°c, but can tolerate 8 - 32°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,500 - 4,500mm, but tolerates 3,000 - 5,000mm[].
Young trees seems to grow better in shade, but older trees grow well in sunny positions[]. Prefers a moist, well-drained, sandy loam with a pH around 6[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7[]. The tree may suffer from wind damage on exposed sites[].
Trees can commence fruiting in just 4 years from seed, by which time they are 4 - 6 metres tall[, ].
Trees flower on the previous year's growth[].
The fruit of this species has a thick exocarp, making it suitable for long-distant transport[]. This gives it potential in breeding programmes with other members of the genus to develop fruits with thick skins suitable for shipping[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. Delicious and aromatic, it is best eaten fresh from the plant[, ]. A richer flavour than the soursop (A. muricata) with a suggestion of the flavour of the white sapote (Casimiroa edulis)[]. A creamy banana-pineapple like flavour, it is said to be one of the most flavourful and refreshing fruits in the genus[]. The fruit has an agreeable flavour, it is 8 - 10cm in diameter, but the seeds are very large, up to 2cm long[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - usually breeds true to type[]. Sow in individual pots, not deeper than 2cm, at 21c[].
The seed of many species in this genus has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up germination. 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[].
Semi-ripe cuttings[].

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