278 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY 



expanded above as a cap. Carpels many, when ripe 

 one-seeded. 



ANONA SQUAMOSA, L., the Custard-apple. A small 

 tree. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, bifarious, simple, 

 oblong, entire, membranous, glaucous on the lower side 

 and pubescent when young. 



Flowers solitary. Sepals three. Petals three, narrow, 

 oblong and very thick, with concave bases. Stamens 

 very numerous each with a thick cap an extension of 

 the connective. Carpels also numerous, in the centre 

 of the flower, each with its own very short style. 

 If the flower be cut down perpendicularly, it will be 

 seen that the stamens and carpels are on a very 

 much raised, conical, thalamus. The fruit is an 

 aggregate of fleshy carpels, densely packed together,, 

 each with one seed. Endosperm ruminate. 



The fruit of A. RETICULATA, L., is the Bullock's- 

 heart, so called from its shape and pink colour. The 

 surface is smooth and marked by a faint network 

 (reticulation) of lines between the many carpels. That 

 of A. MURICATA, L., is the Sour-sop. In this the 

 separate carpels .protrude a little, as so many lumps 

 making the whole fruit knobby (muricate). 



CHARACTERS OF THE ANONACE^E 



This family of plants consists of trees and shrubs 

 (some climbing) and is chiefly found in the Tropics 

 of Asia and Africa. Many of them have sweetly- 

 scented flowers or luscious fruits, and are cultivated for 

 that reason, e.g. CANANGA, ARTABOTRYS and ANONA 

 the Custard-apple. The leaves are always alternate 

 generally in two rows and bifarious, petioled, simple 



