SURAYYA KHATOON

Small tree upto 4 m high. Young branches hairy. Leaves oblong-obovate, 8-16 x 3.1-6.8 cm, acute to shortly acuminate, glossy dark green and glabrous above, paler and minutely hairy to glabrous below. Petiole 4-13 mm long, glabrous. Peduncle 2-5 mm long, woody, leaf opposed or extra-axillary, 1-2 (-3)-flowered. Pedicel 1.5-2.0 cm, stout and woody, minutely hairy to glabrous. Bracteole nearer to the base of pedicel, deltoid, densely hairy. Petals thick, yellowish; outer petals valvate, broadly ovate, 2.8-3.3 x 2.1-2.5 cm, acute to acuminate with cordate base, evenly thick, pilose externally, finely tomentose within; inner petals imbricate, ovate, 2.5-2.8 x 2 cm, obtuse with cuneate base, margins comparatively thin, finely tomentose on both sides. Receptacle conical, hairy. Stamens 4.5 mm long, narrowly cuneate, connective-tip truncate, anther locules unequal. Carpels linear, basally connate, ovary covered with dense reddish brown hairs, 1-ovuled, style short, stigma truncate. Fruit ovoid, upto 30 cm long, dark green, echinate, spines curved and fleshy, pulp white, juicy and aromatic.

Fl. Per.: May-August.

Lectotype: Habitat in America calidiore, Sloane, Hist. Jam. 2: t. 225. 1725.

Distribution: Widely cultivated in Old and New World tropics.

The Soursop is a native of tropical America and W. Indies. In Pakistan, it is introduced in Sind (Stewart, l.c.). It has the largest fruit of all the Annona species, sometimes weighing upto 4.5 Kg. The pulp is pleasantly sour and aromatic, used for making sherbets etc. Seeds possess insecticidal properties.