cherimoyer

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• custard-apple
• custard apple
• cherimoyer

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Annona pubescens
• Annona tripetala

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Annona cherimola, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Magnoliales. Finally, it is a member of the family Annonaceae and falls under the genus Annona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents and climatic zones. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is noted within the borders of Spain. Its range extends to the Macaronesian islands, specifically including Cape Verde. Within West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found in both the Gulf of Guinea Islands and Rwanda. Finally, its distribution reaches into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it is found in Ethiopia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Annona cherimola is defined by its significant adaptability across varied montane landscapes, thriving within a broad altitudinal gradient. This species is typically found in mid-to-high altitude environments, occupying a specialized ecological niche that spans from a minimum elevation of 300 m AMSL to a maximum of 3000 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant reaches its optimal ecological equilibrium at a mean elevation of approximately 1700 m AMSL. This wide elevational range allows it to inhabit diverse microclimates, ranging from lower subtropical zones to higher montane forest ecosystems, where specific temperature and moisture regimes facilitate its growth and reproductive cycles.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Annona cherimola is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, allowing it to maintain its presence in its habitat over many successive years. As a phanerophyte, it develops a woody structure where its reproductive buds are elevated on stems well above the ground, providing a robust framework for its growth. The species exhibits a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a period of leaf shedding, typically in response to seasonal changes or moisture availability, which is a key aspect of its physiological cycle. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and deciduous behavior defines its ecological strategy and survival patterns in its natural environment.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Annona cherimola is characterized by its growth form as a woody, self-supporting plant that primarily manifests as a tree or a shrub. It is a terrestrial species, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant displays a significant stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 4 m to a maximum of 7 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 5.17 m. As a self-supporting structure, it does not exhibit climbing tendencies such as lianas or vines.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

5.16666666666667 m

Plant height min:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Annona cherimola is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and its metabolic relationship with soil nutrients. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with a mean length of 15 cm and a minimum length of 5 cm, reaching a maximum length of up to 25 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 10 cm, maintaining an overall mean width of 6.875 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

6.875 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Annona cherimola involves both sexual and asexual mechanisms, as asexual reproduction is confirmed to be present within its biological processes. The sexual reproductive cycle culminates in the production of large fruits, which exhibit an average width of 8 cm. Contained within these fruits are the seeds, which are remarkably uniform in their physical properties; the seed mass shows no variance, with a minimum, maximum, and mean value all recorded at exactly 0.35104 g.

Fruit width mean:

8 cm

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed mass mean:

0.35104 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Annona cherimola has 4 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, seed, stem.

Fruit

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Leaf

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Seed

1. Journal of natural products
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Stem

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Annona cherimola has 61 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-CORYTUBERINE, (+)-Isoboldine, (+)-Nornantenine, (+)-Reticuline, (-)-Anonaine.

(+)-CORYTUBERINE

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-Isoboldine

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-Nornantenine

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-Reticuline

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Anonaine

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Stepholidine

1. Dr. Duke

1-butanol

1. Dr. Duke

3-Methyl-1-butanol

1. Dr. Duke

Annocherine A

1. Phytochemistry

Annocherine B

1. Phytochemistry

Activities

Annona cherimola has 384 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Antiprotozoal, Anxiolytic, Cytotoxic.

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antiprotozoal

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anxiolytic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adenosine-Antagonist

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Annona cherimola has 14 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include dysentery, Entamoeba histolytica, Helicobacter pylori, antihyperglycemic, breast cancer.

Dysentery

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Entamoeba histolytica

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Helicobacter pylori

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antihyperglycemic

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Breast cancer

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Colon cancer

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Colorectal cancer

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Diarrhea

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Preparations

Annona cherimola has 9 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Annona cherimola ethanolic leaf extract, Annona cherimola leaf extract, MeOH extract, MeOH extract from the stems, Methanolic extracts.

Annona cherimola ethanolic leaf extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Annona cherimola leaf extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Meoh extract

1. Phytochemistry

Meoh extract from the stems

1. Phytochemistry

Methanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanol extract of the leaves

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Ethanolic extracts

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Methanol extract

1. Journal of natural products

Methanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology