THE ANNONACEOUS FRUITS 163 



Canary Islands) with unusually large leaves has been listed by 

 nurserymen under the name Annona macrocarpa. In form the 

 leaves are ovate to ovate-lanceolate, sometimes obovate or 

 elliptic ; obtuse or obtusely acuminate at the apex, rounded at 

 the base. The upper surface is sparsely hairy, the lower vel- 

 vety tomentose. The fragrant flowers are about an inch long, 

 solitary or sometimes two or three together, on short nodding 

 peduncles set in the axils of the leaves. The three exterior 

 petals are oblong-linear in form, greenish outside and pale 

 yellow or whitish within ; the inner three are minute and scale- 

 like, and ovate or triangular in outline. As in other species 

 of Annona, the stamens and pistils are numerous, crowded 

 together on the fleshy receptacle. 



The fruit is of the kind known technically as a syncarpium. 

 It is formed of numerous carpels fused with the fleshy receptacle. 

 It may be heart-shaped, conical, oval, or somewhat irregular in 

 form. In weight it ranges from a few ounces to five pounds. 

 Sixteen-pound cherimoyas have been reported, but it is doubt- 

 ful whether they ever existed in reality. The surface of the fruit 

 in some varieties is smooth ; in others it is covered w r ith small 

 conical protuberances. It is light green in color. The skin 

 is very thin and delicate, making it necessary to handle the ripe 

 fruit with care to avoid bruising it. The flesh is white, melting 

 in texture, and moderately juicy. Numerous brown seeds, the 

 size and shape of a bean, are embedded in it. The flavor is 

 subacid, delicate, suggestive of the pineapple and the banana. 



The cherimoya is sometimes confused with other species of 

 Annona. W. E. Safford, 1 who has studied the botany of this 

 genus thoroughly, writes : 



" For centuries the cherimoya has been cultivated and several 



distinct varieties have resulted. One of these has smooth fruit, 



devoid of protuberances, which has been confused with the 



inferior fruit of both Annona glabra and A. reticulata. The 



1 In Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. 



