| Annonaceae | ||||||||||
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 Annona squamosa fruit | ||||||||||
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The Annonaceae, also called custard apple family or soursop family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of trees, shrubs or lianas. With about 2300 to 2500 species in 120 to 130 genera, it is the largest family in the Magnoliales. Its type genus is Annona. The family is concentrated in the Tropics, with few species found in temperate regions. About 900 species are neotropical, 450 are African, and the other species Asian.
Members of the Annonaceae have simple, alternate, petiolate leaves with smooth, entire margins. The leaves are arranged in two rows along the stems. There is no stipules. The flowers are radially symmetrical and often bisexual. In most species the 3 sepals are united at the base. There are 6 brown to yellow petals, many stamens in a spiral, and many pistils, each with a one-chambered ovary containing many ovules. Flowers are sometimes borne directly on large branches or on the trunk. The fruit is a berry.
Cultivation and uses
The large, pulpy fruits of some members are edible, including species of Annona (the custard apple, the cherimoya, the soursop), Asimina (the papaw), Rollinia (the biriba).
Besides bearing edible fruits, some members also have aromatic oil and are used for perfumes or spices. The strong bark is used for carrying burdens in Amazonia. The wood is valued as firewood.
The bark, leaves and roots of some species are used in folk medicines. Besides, pharmaceutic research has found antifungal, bacteriostatic, and especially cytostatic capability of some chemical constituents of the leaves and bark.
Some species are also grown as ornamental plants, especially Polyalthia longifolia pendula.