Annona purpurea

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

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Read about Annona purpurea in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Annona purpurea, Mocino & Sesse. Negro-head. Cabeza de negro. Soncoya. Sencuya. Toreta. Fig. 210. A small or medium-sized tree, sometimes reaching the height of 25 ft., the younger branches clothed with reddish tomentum but becoming glabrate at length: Lvs. large, membranaceous or subcoriaceous, undulate, oblong-elliptical to oblong-obovate, acuminate at the apex, rounded or obtusely cuneate at the base, 8-12 in. long and 4-5½ in. broad: petioles short and thick: fls. resembling those of A. muricata but sessile or nearly so, solitary, extra-axillary, sometimes opposite a lf., inclosed when very young in an involucre of 2 bracts, the apex of which becomes more or less shriveled at length, and the base persists somewhat like an outer or second calyx; calyx 3-lobed, ferrugineous-velvety on the outside; 3 outer petals very thick, valvate, usually acute or acuminate, sometimes obtuse at the apex, ferrugineous-velvety on the outside, stained with purple within; inner petals overlapping, thinner and rounded, forming a dome-like covering over the essential parts, whitish on the outside, purple within; terminal connectives of the stamens velvety; carpels distinct at first, the hirtellous ovaries crowned by a prismatic style about ⅛ in. long: fr. large, spheroid or broadly ovoid, sometimes 6-8 in. diam., covered with a brownish felt-like indumentum and bearing numerous pyramidal protuberances, grooved longitudinally on the ventral side and usually terminating in a hook directed toward the peduncle; seeds large, obovate, more or less flattened and margínate, sometimes exceeding an inch in length by ½-¾ in. broad; pulp fleshy, fibrous, very fragrant, edible, with a flavor somewhat like that of a mango. Mex. to Panama and perhaps N. S. Amer. It is abundant on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and is sold in the markets of Veracruz.—The frs. differ considerably in flavor. Some of those on the Isthmus of Panama are reputed to be excellent, though here, as elsewhere, they are supposed to induce chills and fever. Intro. into S. Calif., but imperfectly known in cult. Like its congeners, it is undoubtedly capable of improvement by careful selection. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

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