Annonaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Annona cornifolia

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitShrub

Growth—

Trees can tolerate occasional, short-lived frosts with temperatures down to about -2°c^[1]. Succeeds in full sun and in dappled shade^[1]. Prefers a well-drained soil^[1]. The tree can commence fruiting within 4 - 5 years from seed^[1].

Propagation

Seed - it is extremely slow to germinate, averaging 3 - 18 months germination time^[1]. The seed has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing^[PFAF]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-19. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Annona+cornifolia>

Pollinators

Beetles, Insects

References

[1]Trade Winds Fruit — http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/index.htm ↩︎The on-line catalogue of a company selling seeds. Gives descriptions, photos and uses of a very wide range of fruit and other food-producing plants plus ornamentals.
[2]Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol. 18 — Smithsonian Institute; Washington. · 1917 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎Includes a treatment of the Annona. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
[3]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
[4]Wild edible fruits of Colombia: diversity and use prospects — López-Diago D. & García N. · 2021 · https://doi.org/10.21068/c2021.v22n02a02 ↩︎
[5]Diccionario das Plantas Uteis do Brasil — Correa M.P. · Imprensa Nacional; Rio de Janeiro · 1926 ↩︎A massive work in 6 volumes giving details of the various uses of Brazilian plants.
[6]Medicinal Plants of Brazil — Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A. · Reference Publications; Michigan. · 2000 · ISBN 0-917256-42-5 ↩︎An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
[PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎