Description and benefits Annona squamosa

Annona squamosa is a small, semi-(or late) deciduous,much branched shrub or small tree 3 metres (9.8 ft) to 8 metres (26 ft) tallvery similar to soursop (Annona muricata) with a broad, open crown or irregularly spreading branchesand a short trunk short, not buttressed at base. The fruit of A. squamosa has delicious whitish pulp, and is popular in tropical markets.Branches in Hyderabad, India.

Stems and leaves
    Branches with light brown bark and visible leaf scars; inner bark light yellow and slightly bitter; twigs become brown with light brown dots (lenticels - small, oval, rounded spots upon the stem or branch of a plant, from which the underlying tissues may protrude or roots may issue).
    Thin leaves occur singly,5 centimetres (2.0 in) to 17 centimetres (6.7 in) long and 2 centimetres (0.79 in) to 6 centimetres (2.4 in) wide;rounded at the base and pointed at the tip.Pale green on both surfaces and mostly hairless with slight hairs on the underside when young. The sides sometimes are slightly unequal and the leaf edges are without teeth, inconspicuously hairy when young.
Leaf stalks are 0.4 centimetres (0.16 in) to 2.2 centimetres (0.87 in) long, green, sparsely pubescent
flower in Hyderabad, India.

Flowers
Solitary or in short lateral clusters about 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long, 2-4,greenish-yellow flowers on a hairy, slender 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long stalk.Green outer petals, purplish at the base, oblong, 1.6 centimetres (0.63 in) to 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long, and 0.6 centimetres (0.24 in) to 0.75 centimetres (0.30 in) wide, inner petals reduced to minute scales or absent.Very numerous stamens; crowded, white, less than 1.6 centimetres (0.63 in) long; ovary light green. Styles white, crowded on the raised axis. Each pistil forms a separate tubercle (small rounded wartlike protuberance), mostly 1.3 centimetres (0.51 in) to 1.9 centimetres (0.75 in) long and 0.6 centimetres (0.24 in) to 1.3 centimetres (0.51 in) wide which matures into the aggregate fruit.
  
Flowering occurs in spring-early summer and flowers are pollinated by nitidulid beetles.
fruit in Hyderabad, India.

Fruits and reproduction
    Aggregate and soft fruits form from the numerous and loosely united pistils of a flower which become enlarged and mature into fruits which are distinct from fruits of other species of genus(and  more like a giant raspberry instead).

    The round or heart-shaped greenish yellow, ripened aggregate fruit is pendulous on a thickened stalk; 5 centimetres (2.0 in) to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in diameter with many round protuberances and covered with a powdery bloom. Fruits are formed of loosely cohering or almost free carpels (the ripened pistels).

    The pulp is white tinged yellow, edible and sweetly aromatic. Each carpel containing an oblong, shiny and smooth, dark brown to black, 1.3 centimetres (0.51 in) to 1.6 centimetres (0.63 in) long seed.

Benefits

Annona squamosa save a million health benefits. Fruit is also known as custard apple or sugar apple by British sailors, one of which is useful for beauty.

Annona squamosa contain antioxidants, like vitamin C, which helps fight free radicals in the body. High potassium and magnesium contained in this fruit can also protect you from heart disease, as quoted from the pages of the Times of India.

If you want to beautify skin naturally, consume Annona squamosa regularly. This fruit contains vitamin A which is beneficial to keep the skin, hair health, and improve eye function.

Not only that, the fruit is commonly used as a jam in the loaf, it is also efficacious to control blood pressure and help normalize digestive function, constipation cure, and treat diarrhea and dysentery.

That is why it is important to include this fruit in your daily diet. This fruit contains a high magnesium, able to balance the water in the body, help remove acid from the joints and reduce the symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis.

If you often experience excessive fatigue, you can eat Annona squamosa. Therefore, the potassium contained in it can help fight muscle weakness.

The fruit is also beneficial for people suffering from anemia, because the fruit is high in calories. And if you want to gain weight, there's nothing wrong Annona squamosa consume regularly. Annona squamosa famous for its natural sugar content, for it is good if the fruit is used as a snack or dessert you.

Article source:
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://kosmo.vivanews.com

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