The trees grow to up to 12 m. They have narrow, gray trunks and sometimes grow in clumps. The leaves are ovate to oblong, each with an acute? tip, 8–15 cm long and 4–6 cm broad with a prominent midrib. The upper surface is light to dark green. Leaves of the A. glabra are said to have a distinct smell, similar to green apples, that can distinguish it from mangroves.^[rx] The fruit is oblong through spherical and apple-sized or larger, 7–15 cm long and up to 9 cm diameter, and falls when it is green or ripening yellowish. It disperses by floating to new locations, and it is food for many animal species such as wild boar. Reproduction begins around two years of age. A fruit contains 100 or more convex, light yellow-brown seeds, about 1 cm long.^[rx] A. glabra flowers have a short life-span and have a diameter of 2–3 cm. The flowers have three outer petals as well as three inner petals. Compared to the pale yellow or cream color of the petals, the inner base of the A. glabra flower is a bright red.^[rx] Its pollen is shed as permanent tetrads.^[rx]

Annona glabra commonly known as Pond Apple is a tropical fruit tree in the family Annonaceae, in the same genus as the Soursop and Cherimoya. The tree is native to southern Florida in the United States (including the Everglades), the Caribbean, Mexico, Central, and South America, West Africa, and South Asia (Sri Lanka); it is an aggressive invader in the Pacific region.  It is common in the Everglades.  The Annona glabra tree is considered an aggressive species in Sri Lanka and Australia. It grows in swamps, is tolerant of saltwater, and cannot grow in dry soil. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Alligator-apple, Corkwood, Cow-apple, Mangrove anona, Monkey-apple, Pond apple, alligatorapfel, Bullock’s heart, Cherimoyer, custard apple, palo bobo and Shiningleaved Custard Apple.  Pond-apple fruits are eaten by many animal species: the common name alligator-apple is said to come from the fact that American alligators eat the fruit.

Plant Description

Pond Apple is a small, semi-deciduous, woody tree that grows about 3–6 m high but can reach a height of 12 m. The plant is found growing in creek and river banks and farm drainage systems, wetlands and mangrove swamps, and the high tide area of the littoral zone on beaches. Normally it prefers wet to moist, poorly-drained to moderately well-drained organic soils. The plant has gnarled, slightly buttressed roots. Thin, gray trunks are rarely up to 50 cm in diameter, often somewhat enlarged or buttressed at the base. Twigs are moderate, shiny red-brown.

Leaves

Leaves are alternate, oblong-elliptical, with acute? or shortly acuminate apex and cuneate to rounded base, 7-12 cm long, and up to 6 cm broad, oblong-elliptical, acute or shortly acuminate, light- to dark-green above and paler below, with a prominent midrib and a distinctive small fold where the leaf blade joins the leaf stalk. These leaves are glossy in appearance, mostly hairless, and have pointed tips. However, leaves of seedlings, suckers, and saplings may be slightly bluish-green when young.

Flower & Fruit

The flowers are 2-6 cm across and are pale yellow or cream in color with a bright red center. They have three large and leathery outer petals that are 25-30 mm long and 20-25 mm wide and three smaller inner petals that are 20-25 mm long and 15-17 mm wide, as well as three broad sepals about 4.5 mm long and 9 mm wide. Flowering occurs mostly during summer.

The fruit is very large spherical or elongated, 5-15 cm in diameter, looking like a smooth-skinned custard apple. They are initially green in color turning to yellow or orange when ripe and then black as they decay. These fruits have a pinkish-orange, rather dry, pungent-aromatic, pulp that contains more than 100 seeds. Seeds are light-brown, ellipsoid to obovoid, each measuring about 1.5 cm long, 1 cm broad.

Traditional uses and benefits of Pond Apple

• Stem and Leaf are boiled for tea, which is drunk to destroy flatworms and nematodes in Guyana.
• Bark and Leaf are mixed with the bark and leaves of Annona squamosa for a sedative and cardiotonic infusion.
• Seeds were crushed and cooked in coconut oil and applied to hair to get rid of lice in older days.

Culinary Uses

• Pulp of ripe fruit is edible fresh although scarcely desirable.
• It can be made into jam
• It is a popular ingredient of fresh fruit drinks in the Maldives.
• The pulp is eaten raw or made into jellies or drinks.

Other Facts

• Trees begin to flower and produce fruit when they are at least two years old.
• Annona glabra is used as a rootstock for other edible Annona species for its tolerance and adaptability to water-logged conditions.
• Seeds can serve as insecticides.
• Light and softwood is used to substitute cork in fishing nets.
• Fruit can be used as forage for cattle.
• Useful fiber is obtained from the bark. It is sometimes used locally.

Precautions

• Wash the hands properly after using this herb.
• Avoid seed contact to the eyes as it may cause blindness.
• Excess use may lead to death.

References