Cherimoyas, Atemoyas, and other Annona's

Cherimoyas! You either like them, don't know what they are, or tasted a very bad one from the supermarket.

Want to try another? After we recover from the incredible fire disaster here in San Diego, locals should be able to find them at Farmer's markets around the county.

Did you know that there are about 100 different species of Annona's (the Genus that Cherimoya's are in)? They are native to tropical areas around the globe.

Here's a short list of the more well-known species (along with their common names):

Annona cherimola (cherimoya, chirimoya)
Annona cherimola x squamosa (atemoya)
Annona crassiflora (araticum, marolo)
Annona diversifolia (ilama, papauce)
Annona glabra L. (alligator apple, monkey apple, pond apple)
Annona longiflora (jalisco cherimoya, wild cherimoya)
Annona montana (mountain soursop, wild soursop)
Annona muricata (soursop, catuche, brazilian pawpaw, prickly custard apple)
Annona purpurea (annona, black head, cabeza de negro, soncoya)
Annona reticulata (anona corazón, custard apple)
Annona salzmannii (beach sugar apple)
Annona scleroderma (poshte, poshe-te)
Annona senegalensis (wild custard apple)
Annona sericea (japopale)
Annona squamosa (sugar apple, sweet sop)

You might also come across these names, which are actually synonyms for --> accepted names:

Annona glabra Forssk. --> A. squamosa (Note: A. glabra L. IS valid)
Annona hexapetala --> Artabotrys hexapetalus
Annona paludosa --> Guatteria spp.
Annona palmeri --> A. montana

Did you know that Annona's contain several pharmaceutically active compounds, including small amounts of a neurotoxin? It turns out that eating a dozen or so during the period they ripen here (in San Diego) is probably o.k., but eating them every day months/years as is done by natives in the tropics leads to brain lesions and all sorts of complications. If you want more details, look up this article:

Champy, P. et al. Quantification of Acetogenins in Annona muricata Linked to Atypical Parkinsonism in Guadeloupe. Movement Disorders. vol. 20, no. 12, pgs. 1629-1633, 2005.

Aww ... they are sooo yummy!

I've heard about the neurotoxins, which is a little disturbing because they taste so good!

I'm growing:

Annona cherimola
Annona cherimola x squamosa
Annona diversifolia
Annona muricata
Annona squamosa

and.. Rollinia deliciosa

Too bad that they contain neurotoxins..