Cherimoya
Annona cherimola
Also known as Atemoya
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Tamil Nadu
- Flowering
- December-July
How to identify Cherimoya
Identify Cherimoya by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Look for a tree habit.
- Check the distinctive field mark: Heart-shaped fruit with overlapping scale pattern (cherimoya).
- Confirm leaf arrangement: Alternate.
- Confirm leaf shape: Elliptic.
- Confirm flower colour: Green.
- In season, compare flowering and fruiting time: December-July.
- In India, compare location records such as Tamil Nadu.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Annona cherimola
- Genus
- Annona
- Family
- Annonaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Cultivated in tropics
- Habitat type
- Cultivated
- Native to
- South America
- Found in India
- Tamil Nadu
- Flowering & fruiting
- December-July
Leaf characters
- Leaf arrangement
- AlternaterecordedOne leaf per node, arranged in a spiral or zigzag up the stem.“Leaves are single and alternate, dark green, and slightly hairy on the top surface.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf shape
- EllipticrecordedWidest at the middle, tapering evenly at both ends.“The leathery leaves are 5–25 centimetres (2.0–9.8 in) long 3–10 centimetres (1.2–3.9 in) wide, and mostly elliptic, pointed at the ends and rounded near the leaf stalk.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf surface
- PubescentrecordedCovered in short, soft hairs.“Leaves are single and alternate, dark green, and slightly hairy on the top surface.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
Characters marked “recorded” are for Cherimoya itself; the rest are typical of the Annonaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- GreenrecordedGreen or greenish“Cherimoya trees bear very pale green, fleshy flowers.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Solitary
- Fruit
- Berry
Characters marked “recorded” are for Cherimoya itself; the rest are typical of the Annonaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Telugu
- :హనుమ ఫలం, హనుమ ఫలం, హనుమఫలం
- Malayalam
- ചെറിമോയ
About Cherimoya
A member of the Annonaceae family, Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) is a tree. In India it has been recorded in Tamil Nadu. It is cultivated in tropics. Flowering and fruiting run from December to July.
Uses
Locally it is grown for parts that are eaten.
Annonaceae
Custard apple family
Cherimoya belongs to the Annonaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Annonaceae familySnap it. Know it.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
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