Annona Glabra
Syn. Annona palustris, Annona laurifolia

Names: Marsh annona, marsh apple, marsh soursop, cachiman pig, mamen, kachiman, pig, bwa flo, monkey apple, pond apple, alligator apple, corkwood, dog apple, bullock's heart, kaitambo, mangrove annona, cayur, coyur, cayure, corcho, corazon cimarrón, bunya, anona, cajuda, kachiman dyab, driftwood, kachiman kochon, heart of beef, tchobéf, brown soursop, mammé, mamin, kajouka, …

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FAMILY

ANNONACEAE

 

ETYMOLOGY

The name Annona comes from the Haitian Taino "menona" and designates the tree. Glabra means “hairless”.

 

ORIGIN

Caribbean.

 

HABITAT

Wet marshy or sandy places, edge of marshes, back mangroves, edge of forest with Pterocarpus and close to watercourses.

 

DESCRIPTION

It is a small tropical tree 3 to 5m high with black bark which is found in humid places behind the mangroves and in swampy areas.
The fairly thick trunk is extended by buttresses and numerous aerial roots.
The leaves are oblong, alternate, 7 to 15cm long and resemble those of soursop. They are shiny on the upper side. The foliage is semi-evergreen.
The solitary flowers have leathery petals 1.5-2cm long, the outer petals are greenish, the inner ones whitish with blood-red tints at the base.
The oblong to rounded fruit is smooth, 5 to 10cm, tending to orange-yellow when ripe. It is a food source for crabs and some waterfowl.

The slightly dry orange-pink flesh is aromatic and has light brown, inedible seeds.

 

NEEDS

Heavy or submerged watering .
Sandy or marshy ground. It can be grown in a freshwater or brackish water tank. 
Exposure: Full sun. 
Flowering: July November and November March.

Fruiting: mainly from May to June.
Hardiness: Although tropical, the marsh Annona is a tree capable of withstanding brief frosts, down to approximately -2°C/-3°C.

Altitude: 0-150m.

 

MULTIPLICATION

Seeds, cuttings 
In spring, it is possible to make seedlings at more than 20°C after scarifying them and soaking them overnight in lukewarm water. The seeds germinate in 1-2 months. In June, you can make herbaceous stem cuttings (all year round with an appropriate system).

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USES
 

MEDICINAL USE

Hazards :

The absorption of herbal teas made from this plant is not recommended in Parkinson's patients and people undergoing neuroleptic treatment because of a suspicion of neurotoxicity linked to benzyl-quinoline alkaloids which could be the cause of atypical Parkinson's syndromes (Capparos- Lefebvre D et al., 1999; Champy et al., 2005)

 

ORNAMENTAL USE

Terrariums, ponds, basins.

 

FOOD USE

It is a wild fruit which is little consumed, and which is considered of inferior quality to related fruits such as apple cinnamon or soursop. It can nevertheless be consumed fresh, or used in the preparation of drinks, jams, jellies and wine.

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OTHER USES

Insecticide (Aqueous maceration, 50 seeds per litre, 24 hours, filter and dilute in 10 volumes of water). Water the plants with the solution obtained.
The fruits are bait for land crab fishing.
The spongy roots are used by fishermen to make net floats and are also used as bottle stoppers.

 

ANECDOTES

It is used as a rootstock.

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SOURCES

• Directory of fruit and vegetables from Guadeloupe - Ed Orphie - P10
• Caribbean medicinal plants - Ed Garfish - T2 P126
• Illustrated flora of the phanerogams of Guadeloupe & Martinique - Jacques Fournet - Ed Gondwana, CIRAD -  T1 P78