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Annona squamosa L.

Synonym                    : Annona asiatica L.

Family                        : Annonaceae

Local Names              : Aatha, Aathachakka, Custard apple

Flowering and fruiting period: June-October

Distribution: Native of Central America and West Indies

Habitat: Cultivated

IUCN status: Least concern

Endemic: No

Uses: Fruits edible. The young shoots, combined with peppermint, are used in the West Indies to relieve colds and chills. In Cuba, the leaves are taken to lower uric acid levels in the blood. The bark and leaves, combined with those of Annona muricata, are used in a sedative infusion. An infusion of the leaves and fruit is used to aid digestion and treat rheumatism. The tree is a good source of firewood. An oil distilled from the leaves is applied to the head for treating sleeplessness.

Key Characters: Trees, to 6 m high. Leaves simple, alternate; lamina ovate, ovate-lanceolate, margin entire. Flowers bisexual, axillary, solitary or a few together; petals 6 [3+3, greenish-white or yellow, inner three petals usually missing or rudimentary, anther thecae narrow, with ovoid top of connectives; carpels many, superior, 1-ovuled, style oblong, stigma entire. Fruit an aggregate of berry; seeds many, black, shiny.