Common Name: Araticum Do Mato

General Information

Annona sylvatica is an evergreen tree growing 6 - 8 metres tall[]. The bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter[].
The edible fruit is mainly gathered from the wild for local use, though the plant is also sometimes cultivated[]. The tree also has local medicinal uses and is the source of wood and fibre. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental[].
Annona sylvatica has a wide range and is found in many different locations. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - southern and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Forests[]. Secondary growth in a wide range of forests, growing particularly well in highland, semideciduous forests[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	7.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Beetles, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations from sea level to higher elevations in the Brazilian highlands[]. It might possibly tolerate some frost[].

Freshly planted young trees usually establish well and grow away rapidly, often reaching 3.5 metres or more within 2 years[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. A sweet, succulent pulp, but with a large amount of fairly large seeds[]. The yellowish-white pulp is edible, although not very pleasant, and can produce dysentery when ingested in excess[]. The fermented fruit is used to make a beverage[]. The bright yellow-orange,very broadly ovoid fruit is around 25 - 30mm long and 30 - 50mm wide; composed of 30 - 50 carpels, each containing a seed around 15 - 17mm x 7 - 10mm[, ].
The fermented fruit produces a wine-like drink[].

Medicinal

The leaves are antitussive, antispasmodic and febrifuge. They are used in the treatment of dysentery, aphthae and sore throats[].

An extract of the unripe fruit is used to treat chronic diarrhoea[].
The fermented fruit produces a vinous drink said to be cooling and stomachic[].
The fruit pulp is used to treat ulcers[].

The bark is astringent and tonic[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing tree that produces a plentiful supply of fruit for the indigenous species, it is a good species to choose as part of a reforestry project for restoring natural forest[].

Other Uses

Fibres in the bark are used for making ropes[, ].

The bark can be used as an incense and was traditionally used by native women as an incense if they were having excessive menstruation[].

The white wood is very light, soft, satin-smooth, solidly compacted and of low natural durability[, ]. It is used for building canoes and small boats, internal work, ceiling boards, general carpentry, sculpture, making household objects etc[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, germination rates drop when seed is 3 months or more old[]. The seed germinated better if it is scarified by carefully nicking the seedcoat to allow ingress of moisture, but being careful not to damage the embryo[]. Sow the seed in light shade in a nursery seedbed or in containers. Germination rates are usually in excess of 60%, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 60 days[]. Nursery bed seedlings should be potted up into individual pots once they are 4 - 6cm tall. Plant out into permanent positions about 6 months later[].

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