74 



leaves are dark green, shining, ovate or obovate, sometimes 

 elliptical; sparsely hairy above, persistently velvety beneath; 

 the apex is obtuse or obtusely acuminate, the base is rounded. 

 The flowers are greenish, and very fragrant; extra-axillary, often 

 opposite a leaf at the base of a branchlet; usually solitary, but 

 sometimes two or three on short nodding tomentose peduncles. 

 The exterior petals are oblong-linear, about an inch long, keeled 

 on the inside and excavated at the base; greenish-yellow on the 

 outside and covered with fine tomentum; pale yellowish or 

 whitish within, and marked with a purple spot at the base. The 

 inner petals are small, squamose, ovate or triangular; usually 

 flesh-colored or purple, and keeled on the outside. 



The fruit is about the size of a large orange, and variable in 

 shape. It may be conoid, heart-shaped, or oblate. The young 

 fruit is covered with brown tomentum. When ripe the rind is 

 gray-green, smooth or slightly areolate, sometimes "having the 

 appearance of putty marked by finger prints." The carpels may 

 be depressed, smooth, or raised, sometimes knobby. The flesh is 

 white, soft, richly flavored, and pleasantly acidulous. It is said 

 that fruits of exquisite flavor are produced in Madeira, where 

 the trees are trained on trellises. This species has given excellent 

 response to cultivation in southern California. The cherimoyas 

 are rarely seen in the Honolulu markets, but occur in many 

 private gardens. There has been no commercial exploitation 

 of the fruit. 



The third species, Annona reticulata L., is not very common in 

 the Islands, but may be found here and there in private gardens 

 and old estates. This is the true custard-apple, also known as 

 bullock's heart, corazon, mamon, anonas, and quauhtzapotl. 

 It is a native of the West Indies and tropical America, and is now 

 grown in many tropical countries. It has been cultivated suc- 

 cessfully in southern Florida and southern California. 



The tree is ten to tw"ent5'-five feet high, and in some regions is 

 deciduous. The young growth is fulvo-tomentose. The leaves 

 are lanceolate or oblong lanceolate; apex acuminate; glabrate 

 above, sometimes rough beneath; light green and rather brittle. 

 The flowers are yellowish or greenish, with purple spots; they 



