The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Common name: Soursop, אנונה מסוקסת, אנונה מסוקסת

Family: Annonaceae (Annona)

Distribution: Central America and North-eastern South America

Habitat: Warm lowlands, 0-1200 m., tolerant of poor soil but not to frost.

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Life form: Broad leaved tree

Uses: Fruit edible - fresh or cooked

Species Etymology: Annona is the fruit’s name in the American Indian Taino language. Muricata means roughened. Its original local name is guanábana.

In memory: of Nizza Yaffe-Ovadia, a teacher of nature and life.

Description: Tree, up to 10m. tall. The bark is rugose. The leaves are oblong, 5-18 cm long, 2-7 cm wide. Flower size is about 4 cm, petals thick, greenish to light yellow, without a red blotch. The fruit is the largest among the Annona species. It is green, prickly and can reach 30 cm. The fruit's pulp is juicy, acidic, white and aromatic.