Mountain soursop

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Gottasop

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Annona montana f. marcgravii
• Annona pisonis
• Annona sphaerocarpa
• Annona marcgravii
• Annona sariffa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Magnoliales, it is classified under the family Annonaceae. Finally, Annona montana is identified by its specific genus, Annona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several tropical regions. In Central America, it is commonly found throughout Costa Rica, Honduras, and Panamá. Its presence extends further into the Caribbean islands as well. Specifically, it can be located in the nation of Cuba. Additionally, the species is known to grow within the Dominican Republic.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Annona montana is characterized by its broad adaptability to diverse tropical forest ecosystems, where it thrives in habitats such as Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea, and Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial). This species exhibits a significant altitudinal distribution, occupying a wide ecological gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL. This expansive elevational range allows the plant to inhabit various microclimates and moisture regimes, ranging from lowland floodplains to higher montane forest environments.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Annona montana is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist and thrive through multiple growing seasons. As an evergreen plant, it maintains its foliage throughout the year, ensuring continuous photosynthetic activity and contributing to its robust structural development.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Annona montana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, typically reaching an average height of 10 m, though it can grow up to a maximum height of 15 m. As a terrestrial species, it is not aquatic and does not function as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant is an independent organism, categorized as non-parasitic, and is a self-supporting structure rather than a climber, liana, or vine. Its overall architecture is defined by its robust, woody habit and upright, self-supporting stature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Annona montana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide via the enzyme Rubisco during the Calvin cycle, making it typical of many tropical woody species. In terms of nutrient acquisition, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system rather than forming symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Annona montana has 4 reported plant parts identified across 4 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. Journal of medicinal food

Leaf

1. Journal of medicinal food

Seed

1. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Annona montana has 25 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (-)-syringaresinol, Annomontacin, Annomontine, Annonacin, Anonaine.

(-)-syringaresinol

1. Planta medica

Annomontacin

1. Journal of natural products

Annomontine

1. Dr. Duke

Annonacin

1. Journal of natural products

Anonaine

1. Dr. Duke

Asimilobine

1. Dr. Duke

Atherosperminine

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Planta medica

Cis-Annomontacin

1. Journal of natural products

Coclaurine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Annona montana has 36 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Amebicide, Analgesic, Antiaggregant, Antiamebic.

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

Amebicide

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiamebic

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Antidepressant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidermatophytic

1. Dr. Duke

Antidopaminergic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Annona montana has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antidepressant, anxiolytic, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations