DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 185 



Annona squamosa. Sugar-apple. Sweetsop. Plate xxxiv. 



Local names. — Atis (Guam, Philippines); Annona blanca (Mexico); Ata 

 (Hindu); Sweetsop (British West Indies). 



A shrub or small tree of American origin, the fruit of which is tuberculate, each 

 carpel forming a protuberance, egg shaped or of the form of an artichoke or a short 

 pine cone, 7.5 to 10 cm. in diameter; yellowish green, frequently covered with a 

 whitish or glaucous bluish bloom; pulp very sweet, creamy yellow and custard-like, 

 inclosing smooth black or dark-brown seeds, and of an agreeable flavor; leaves thin, 

 glaucous, oblong-ovate, very sparsely hairy on both sides, but often becoming 

 smooth, flowers with the three outer petals oblong-linear and blunt, keeled on the 

 inner side, greenish; pistils many, united to form the fleshy fruit. 



This is the favorite custard apple of the natives of Guam. It is found planted by 

 nearly every house. It does not grow wild like A. reticulata. It loses its leaves 

 in the dry season, putting forth flowers and leaves when the first rains fall, and 

 bearing a succession of crops of fruit during most months of the year. The fruit 

 becomes very soft when ripe, often bursting open on the tree, when it is greedily 

 eaten by ants. These insects do not attack it as long as the surface remains unbroken. 

 It is eaten uncooked, the soursop (A. muricata) being the only species utilized by 

 the natives for jelly and preserves. The best of the Annonas, Annona cherimolia, a 

 fruit very highly esteemed in South America, does not grow in Guam. Attempts to 

 introduce it into Java and many other tropical countries have met with failure. 

 Annonacsae. - Custard-apple family. 



This family, which includes the "pawpaw" (Asimina triloba) of the United States, 

 is represented in Guam by the ilangilang tree (Canangium odoraturn) and the above 

 species of Annona. 

 References: 



Annona squamosa L. Sp. PI. 1 : 537. 1753. 

 Anonas ( Guam) . See Annona. reticulata. 

 Antidote lily. See Crinum asiaticum. 



Antigonon leptopus. Mexican creeper. 



Family Polygonaceae. 



Local names. — Cadena de amor (Guam); Coralillo (Cuba); Coamecate, Hierba 

 de Santa Rosa (Mexico). 



A creeper with clusters of rose-colored flowers. Stem slender, glabrous, or nearly so; 

 leaves alternate, entire, cordate and acuminate or hastate-ovate; flowers in racemes, 

 which end in branching tendrils; sepals 5, rose-colored and petal-like, the two interior 

 ones narrower; stamens 8; styles 3; ovary 5-angled. 



Cultivated in the gardens of Guam, but not common. It takes its pretty and 

 appropriate local name ( " the chain of love ' ' ) from the form of its flowers, which look 

 like miniature hearts of coral. 

 References: 

 Antigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn. Bot. Beech. Voy. 308. t. 69. 1841. 

 Antipolo (Philippines). See Artocarpus communis (seeded). 

 Antrophyum. See Ferns. 

 Aoa (Samoa) . See Ficus sp. 

 Apasotes (Philippines). 



The name used in Guam for "Mexican tea," Chenopodium ambrosioides, which is 

 grown in many of the gardens of the natives. Also called " alapasotes. " 

 Ape (Polynesia). See Alocasia indica and A. macrorrhiza. 

 Apiaceae. Carrot family. 



The only representative in Guam of this family is Centella asiatica. 



