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Annona muricata L.
Synonym : Annona macrocarpa Wercklé
Family
: Annonaceae
Local
Names :
Cancer chakka, Mullathi, Soursop
Flowering and
fruiting period:
April – October
Distribution: Native of Central America and West Indies, introduced elsewhere
Habitat: Cultivated
IUCN status: Least concern
Endemic:
No
Uses: Fruits edible, anti-cancerous. Extraction from leaves is lethal to head lice and bedbugs.
When grinded, the seeds are effective pesticides against head lice. The juice
of the fruit is said to be able to increase the amount of urine, and treat
urethritis and haematuria. Immature fruits are grinded and decocted as a treat
for dysentery.
Key Characters: Trees, to 10 m high, bark pale brown; young
twigs glabrescent. Leaves simple, alternate; lamina elliptic, oblong, margin
entire. Flowers yellowish-green. Sepals 3, triangular, persistent. Petals
6(3+3) ovate-acute, yellow;
