Common Name: Soncoya

General Information

Annona purpurea is a deciduous tree with a broad, spreading crown; it can grow up to 10 metres or more tall[, ]. The short bole can be 45cm in diameter[].
The tree produces edible fruits that are often gathered from the wild. It is often considered to be of mediocre quality, and therefore not so popular, because it is outwardly so hard[]. It is, however, occasionally cultivated for its fruit in gardens in its native range[, ] and also in the Philippines[]. The fruits are sometimes sold in local markets[, ]. The species has been recommended for improvement by breeding[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Colombia, Venezuela; C. America - Panama to southern Mexico.

Habitat

Wet or dry forests, often in second growth or in thickets, chiefly at low elevations but sometimes ascending to about 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	8.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the hot, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 30°c, but can tolerate 17 - 35°c[]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -1°c or lower, but new growth will be badly damaged at 0°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 700 - 5,000mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Prefers a moist, moderately fertile, sandy loam[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw and also made into juice[, , ]. The abundant pulp has an agreeable, aromatic flavour[, , ]. A mango-like flavour[]. The fruit turns brown to gray when ripe and is about 15 - 20cm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The juice of the fruit is regarded as a remedy for fever, chills and jaundice[, ]. Its use in the treatment of jaundice is most likely to be based on its colour rather than its efficacy[].

A decoction of the bark is effective against dysentery and oedema[]. The inner bark is used[, ].

Other Uses

Seed extracts destroy fleas[]. Extracts of the seeds are poisonous and can be used as an insecticide[, ].

Propagation

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[].

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