Annona muricata L.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Annonaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Tree 3-8 m tall; stems cylindrical, with numerous whitish, lineolate lenticels; young parts densely covered with rusty-brown hairs. Leaf blades 6-17 x 2.5-7 cm, elliptic, oblong or oblanceolate,chartaceous to coriaceous, glabrous except for a few hairs on primary veins and at vein angles, the apex abruptly acuminate, acute or obtuse, the base obtuse or tapering, the margins entire and slightly revolute; petioles 0.5-1.5 cm long, slightly swollen. Flowers terminal but appearing lateral, pendent. Sepals triangular, 3.5-4.5 mm long; petals 2.5-3.5 cm long, outer and inner nearly equal, cordate, greenish yellow, with acuminate and reflexed apex; stamens club-shaped. Fruit edible, fleshy, elongate-cordate, 15- 30 cm long, the skin green, with spinelike projections, the pulp white and tart. Seeds numerous, elliptic, 1-1.7 cm long, dark brown, smooth.
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Discussion
Common names: soursop, susaka, sweetsop.
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Distribution
Mostly found along roadsides and near settlements. Susannaberg (A2086). Also on Jost van Dyke, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; native to tropical America but perhaps introduced in the West Indies in pre-Columbian times.
West Indies| Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Virgin Islands South America|