Graviola - Soursop Seeds (Annona muricata)

Graviola - Soursop Seeds (Annona Muricata)

Price for Package of 5 seeds.

Annona muricata, the Corossol or Soursop, is a tropical shrub from South America, Asia and Africa. This shrub will grow to a height of 4 to 6 meters high and 3 to 4 meters large. It gives delicious fruits. Annona muricata can even be grown in a pot.

Annona muricata has a cylindrical trunk. The foliage is made of shiny green oblong leaves. A sweet smell emerges from the leaves when they are crushed. The flowers are green-yellow and have a sweet smell. The plant produces green fruits are called soursops. They can weight up to 6 pounds and are covered with soft points. The flesh of the fruit is white and sweet-acidic. It is usually juiced instead of eaten and contains a lot of vitamins.

Annona blooms all year long in tropical regions. In milder climates, it blooms in spring and at the start of summer. It is a deciduous plant, which means that it loses its leaves when it rests. The plant will take 3 to 4 years before producing fruits.

Hardiness zones 10-11 (1°C/35°F,4°C/40°F) in winter. The plant dies when the temperature is below 0°C. Annonas need to be in a situation away from the wind. They are not rustic plants.

The plant thrives in full sun. Watering is done once a week and abundantly. Also, remember to cut the dead branches or the ones that are too low. Keep it far from the cold and the wind.

The Annona can be grown in a pot.

Additional Information

WIKIPEDIA:

Annona muricata is a species of the genus Annona of the custard apple tree family, Annonaceae, known mostly for its edible fruit. The fruit is usually called soursop due to its slightly acidic taste when ripe. A. muricata is native to the Caribbean and Central America but is now widely cultivated – and in some areas, becoming invasive – in tropical climates throughout the world.

Description

Habit

Annona muricata is a small, upright, evergreen tree that can grow to about 4 metres (13 ft) tall.

Stems and leaves

The young branches are hairy.

Leaves are oblong to oval, 8 centimetres (3.1 in) to 16 centimetres (6.3 in) long and 3 centimetres (1.2 in) to 7 centimetres (2.8 in) wide. Glossy dark green with no hairs above, paler and minutely hairy to no hairs below.

The leaf stalks are 4 millimetres (0.16 in) to 13 millimetres (0.51 in) long and without hairs.

Flowers

Flower stalks (peduncles) are 2 millimetres (0.079 in) to 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long and woody. They appear opposite from the leaves or as an extra from near the leaf stalk, each with one or two flowers, occasionally a third.

Stalks for the individual flowers (pedicels) are stout and woody, minutely hairy to hairless and 15 millimetres (0.59 in) to 20 millimetres (0.79 in) with small bractlets nearer to the base which are densely hairy.

Petals are thick and yellowish. Outer petals meet at the edges without overlapping and are broadly ovate, 2.8 centimetres (1.1 in) to 3.3 centimetres (1.3 in) by 2.1 centimetres (0.83 in) to 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in), tapering to a point with a heart-shaped base. Evenly thick, covered with long, slender, soft hairs externally and matted finely with soft hairs within. Inner petals are oval-shaped and overlap. 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) to 2.8 centimetres (1.1 in) by 2 centimetres (0.79 in). Sharply angled and tapering at the base. Margins are comparatively thin, with fine matted soft hairs on both sides. The receptacle is conical and hairy. Stamens 4.5 millimetres (0.18 in) long and narrowly wedge-shaped. The connective-tip terminate abruptly and anther hollows are unequal. Sepals are quite thick and do not overlap. Carpels are linear and basally growing from one base. The ovaries are covered with dense reddish-brown hairs, 1-ovuled, style short and stigma truncate.

Fruits and reproduction

Dark green, prickly (or bristled) fruits are egg-shaped and can be up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long, with a moderately firm texture. The flesh is juicy, acid, whitish and aromatic.

Abundant seeds[6] the average weight of 1000 fresh seeds is 470 grams (17 oz) and had an average oil content of 24%. When dried for 3 days in 60 °C (140 °F) the average seed weight was 322 grams (11.4 oz) and was tolerant of the moisture extraction; showing no problems for long-term storage under reasonable conditions.

Medicinal use

An extract from the leaves has been reportedly successful in lowering elevated blood pressure by its decreasing peripheral vascular resistance.