An Important Fruit of India : Annona squamosa L.

Sanjeet Kumar

Annona squamosa L.

Common name: Sitaphal, Ata

Botanical name: Annona squamosa

Family: Annonaceae

Vernacular name(s)                                Taxonomic classification

Oriya: Ata, Sitaphal                                     Kingdom: Plantae

Hindi: Saripha                                             Division: Angiosperms

Bengoli: Sitaphal                                         Order: Magnolials

Telgu: Sitapandu                                         Family: Annonaceae

English: Custard Apple                               Genus: Annona

                                                                  Species: squamosa

Distribution

Widely cultivated and naturalized in India. Native of West Indies and now widely cultivated in tropics and also found in Central America, French Guyana, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, Tonga, Haiti, Costa Rica, Sudan, Tanzania, Cambodia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Cyprus.

Botany of Annona squamosa L.

Shrub or small tree. Leaves elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, glabrous, glaucous or glabrescent. Flowers drooping, solitary or 2-4 in a cluster; pedicel to 1.5 cm. sepals triangular, pubescent. Petals greenish-yellow, outer ones thick, inner ones minute. Seeds smooth, blackish, with a pale swelling at the hilum, oblong.

Medicinal properties

Root decoction is used as purgative. Bark decoction is used against diarrhea. Leaf decoction is used in urine problems. Seed powder is applied externally to kill lice and has abortifacient activity.

Chemical compound(s)

Annonin is a bioactive compounds isolated from the seed which has insecticidal activity. Leaves and seeds also contain different types of alkaloids.

Common Use(s)

·        The tree serves as host for lac- excreting insects.

·        Seed powder is used for fish killing.

·        Fruits are edible and used for making ice cream and beverages.