Annona cherimola Mill.
A large and straggling, frost tender, evergreen shrub or small tree with lance-shaped leaves, to 10cm long, fragrant yellow flowers, spotted purple at the base inside, followed by large, edible fruit, to 10cm by 20cm. To 7m.
Horticultural & Botanical History
The Gardeners Chronicle of 1843 describes the fruit, then very much a novelty, as being irregularly heart-shaped and of considerable size, a fine specimen often weighing 4lbs. The thin, pale greenish-yellow skin covers the edible white pulp, of the consistency of custard, containing many seeds. [Gard. Chron. 1843]. ‘This fruit is esteemed by the Peruvians as one of their most delicate sorts and is considered by them not inferior to any fruit in the world.’ [Don]. ‘Native of Chili and Peru; and, according to Feuillee, is cultivated with great care in the latter country, where it is esteemed the best fruit of the country by the Creoles; but the good father remarks, that a pear or a plum is worth all the Cherimolli in Peru. […] Cultivated only by Mr. Philip Miller in 1739.’ [BM t.2011/1818].
History at Camden Park
Listed in all published catalogues [T.56/1843]. Probably introduced to assess its potential as a fruit tree under Camden conditions.
Notes
Published Feb 23, 2009 - 11:08 AM | Last updated Jul 14, 2010 - 11:29 AM
Annona cherimola Mill. | BM t.2011/1818 | BHL
| Family | Annonaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Tropical America |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | Cherimoyer, Custard apple |
| Name in the Camden Park Record | Anona cherimolia - Cherimoyer |
| Confidence level | high |