Annonaceae

Defining Characteristics

• Alternate , simple, entire leaves, often aromatic with distinctive odour when crushed
• Flowers typically with 3 sepals and 6 thick, fleshy petals in two whorls of 3
• Numerous stamens and carpels spirally arranged — a primitive floral structure
• Fruit an aggregate of fleshy berries or a large syncarp (soursop, cherimoya)
• Aromatic bark, leaves, and fruit containing various alkaloids and essential oils

Notable Genera

• Annona (cherimoya, soursop, sugar apple — ~170 species)
• Asimina (pawpaw — ~10 species, the only temperate North American genus)
• Cananga (ylang-ylang)
• Polyalthia

Notes

Primarily tropical; Asimina triloba (pawpaw) is the only temperate North American representative. Includes important tropical fruit trees: cherimoya was called the most delicious fruit known to man by Mark Twain. Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata) is a major source of perfume oil. Some species have insecticidal and anti-cancer properties (acetogenins).