Annona muricata

Soursop

 

Wonderfull fruit tree 

                                                                               

 

Corossolier, Kowosòl, kòsòl, kwasol, soursop, guanábana, guanaba, catoche, guanábano, sapadille, graviola, muko-nokono miba, prickly custard apple,…

 

Family

 

ANNONACEAE

 

Origin

 

Northern South America

 

Description

  

Small fruit tree 3 to 5 meters high with shiny leaves. Flowers are yellowish green with fleshy petals. Fruits are large, green and heart-shaped, covered with softish spines.

The pulp is white embedded with dark brown seeds.

Blooms all year round.

Pollen is released when the first (largest) circle of petals opens, but the stigmas are fertile later, when the second (smallest) circle of petals departs, forcing a cross-pollination between 2 flowers at different stages. The pollination is usually done by small beetles attracted by the scent, but it is often incomplete (deformed fruit). It is therefore interesting to carry out manual pollination with a brush.

This species was introduced in the Philippines and Madagascar in the 17th century, in Guadeloupe before 1635, in St Vincent before 1806, in Reunion in 1765, in Martinique in the 18th century, in French Polynesia in 1847 and is noted cultivated in New Caledonia in 1883.

  

Habitat

 

Cultivated and naturalized (0-500m)

 

Propagation

 

Cutting, seeds and grafting

 

Culture and care
 

Corossol grows in all types of soil, but prefers sandy or stony soils.

Prune branches that intersect. The shape size is practiced before the rainy season by removing in particular dead branches and gourmets.

In winter, the temperature should not drop below 10°C if you want to have fruit. 

Culture possible in the south of France.

Water well the first year after planting, fast growing. Do not forget to straw at the foot.

 

In the spring, it is possible to sow at more than 20°C after scarifying them and soaking one night in warm water. Seeds germinate in 1-2 months.

In June you can make herbaceous cuttings with the choking.

Otherwise all year round with appropriate system 

 

the fumagine grows on the leaves when there is too much moisture.

enemies: red spiders, cochineals and pyrals. 

Uses

 

 

- Ornemental use

 

 

Beautiful ornamental fruit tree. Have to be planted as a single plant.

 

- Other uses

 

 

Sorbet, fruit juice and raw. Its taste is between mango and litchi. Seeds are used in crafts.Leaf infusion is used as a sleeping pill.

  

Traditions

 

In Guadeloupe the leaves were used to bathe the children in the late afternoon for their sedative effect. The seeds were used crushed against the lice.

 

Etymology

 

Corossol comes from amerindians and would be the deformation of Curaçao, the island from which it comes.

Annona would come from Taino and point to these trees.

Muricata means “spiky” in Latin, like the fruit.

 

Anecdote

 

Green fruit can be baked or fried in rounds. It looks like vegan fish steaks.