Common Name: Bullock's Heart

General Information

Annona reticulata is a fast-growing, deciduous to semi-evergreen tree with a rounded or spreading crown[]. It can reach up to 7 metres tall with a bole up to 30cm in diameter[, , ].
Long cultivated in S. America for its fruit, the tree is no longer known in a truly wild setting[]. It is mainly grown in gardens in various areas of the tropics for its edible fruit[, ]. The flesh, which is somewhat lacking in flavour, does not taste as good as some other members of this genus, so it is not so popular on the local market[].
Annona reticulata is widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics for its edible fruit. It is also still found wild in the American tropics. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[].

Known Hazards

The hard seeds are very toxic, but can be swallowed whole with no ill effects[].
All non-fruit parts of the plant are quite toxic[].
Sap from the cut branches is acrid and irritant and can severely injure the eyes[].
The bark contains 0.12% anonaine, and injection of an extract from the bark reportedly caused paralysis in a rear limb of an experimental toad[].

Botanical References

,

Range

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

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild location[]. Moist or dry thickets and forest, often in second growth, common in cultivation, chiefly at elevations of 1,200 metres or less in Guatemala[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Beetles, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Annona reticulata needs a tropical climate for good growth, but it can survive in subtropical conditions[]. It is less drought-tolerant than the sugar apple and prefers a humid atmosphere[]. It succeeds from sea level to an elevation of 1,500 metres[]. Plants can tolerate short-lived light frost[, ].
Prefers a moist, sandy loam with a pH around 6[]. The custard apple does best in low-lying, deep, rich soil with ample moisture and good drainage[]. It grows to full size on oolithic limestone, and grows wild in light sand and various other types of soils[]. It is not drought tolerant[].
Often cultivated for its edible fruit, the plant has escaped from cultivation in many areas and is commonly listed as an invasive species[].
Trees come into bearing in 4 - 5 years from seed[].
The tree is naturally a fairly heavy bearer. With adequate care, a mature tree will produce 34-45 kg of fruits/year[].
In Thailand it has been grown as a mixed home garden plants along with big trees like mango, ma-praang, coconut etc[].
It may also be useful as a genetic resource for hybridization work on Annona species[].
The flowers are pleasantly aromatic, but the leaves are ill-smelling[, ].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, ]. The sweetish flesh of a fully ripe fruit varies considerably in quality; some are eaten raw but most often they are used in preserves, drinks, ice cream, puddings etc[, ]. The cream-white flesh, like the other Annonas, is pulpy and contains numerous brown seeds[]. A firm, sweet, yellow pulp. When fully ripe the fruit is soft to the touch and the stem and attached core can be easily pulled out[]. The fruit is up to 12cm in diameter[]. Ripe fruits can weigh from 400 - 1,000 g[].

Medicinal

The leaves are used internally against worms, and externally to treat abscesses[, ].
Crushed leaves or a paste of the flesh may be poulticed on boils, abscesses and ulcers[].

Unripe fruits and the bark are rich in tannin[]. They are used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery[, ]. In severe cases, the leaves, bark and green fruits are all boiled together for 5 minutes in a litre of water to make an exceedingly potent decoction[].

Fragments of the root bark are put around the gums to relieve toothache[]. The root decoction is taken as a febrifuge[].

The finely grated stem bark is placed on the area of an enlarged spleen[].

A concentrated extract of the see is employed to remedy dysentery and diarrhoea[].

Other Uses

The leaves are employed in tanning and also yield a blue or black dye[, ].

Young twigs provide good fibre[, ]. Superior to the bark fibre from Annona squamosa[, ]. The bark is used for tying the frames of huts[].

The seeds, leaves and young fruits have insecticidal properties[]. The plant is poisonous and has a potential as a pesticide for non-vertebrates.

The yellow wood is soft, fibrous but durable, moderately close-grained, with a specific gravity of 0.65[, ]. It is used to make utensils, yokes for oxen[, ].

Propagation

Seed - usually breeds true to type[]. Sow in individual pots, not deeper than 2cm, at 21c[]. The germination rate ranges from low to medium[].
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[].

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: How many fingers does the typical human have?