Annonas: Botany, Production and Uses

Annona is a genus of flowering plants in the Annonaceae family. They are trees, shrubs and vines (liana) growing in areas of warm climate in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa and Asia. The edible fruits of several species have significant commercial value, and include the cherimoya, soursop (also known as the guanabana or graviola), sweetsop or sugar apple, custard apple, ilama and the hybrid atemoya.

The fruits are normally consumed fresh, though their short postharv...