Pond Apple

Annona glabra stands as a tropical fruit tree within the Annonaceae family, sharing its genus with the soursop and cherimoya. It goes by various common names such as pond apple, alligator apple (owing to its consumption by American alligators), swamp apple, corkwood, bobwood, and monkey apple. Indigenous to Florida in the United States, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and West Africa, this tree thrives notably in the Everglades. The A. glabra tree is recognized as an invasive species in Sri Lanka and Australia. Flourishing in wetlands, it demonstrates a remarkable tolerance for saltwater and is ill-suited for arid soils.
The trees can reach heights of up to 12 m and exhibit slim, gray trunks, occasionally forming clusters. Their leaves are ovate to oblong with pointed tips, measuring 8–15 cm in length and 4–6 cm in width, showcasing a prominent midrib. The upper side of the leaves displays a range of light to dark green shades. These leaves possess a distinctive aroma akin to green apples, setting them apart from mangroves.

The fruit, which ranges from oblong to spherical, reaches the size of an apple or even larger, measuring 7–15 cm in length and up to 9 cm in diameter. It drops when still green or as it turns yellowish during ripening. This fruit employs water dispersion to reach new areas, serving as sustenance for numerous animal species such as wild boars. Reproduction typically commences around the age of two years. Inside the fruit, one can find over 100 convex, light yellow-brown seeds, each about 1 cm long.

The A. glabra flowers enjoy a brief lifespan and boast a diameter of 2–3 cm. These flowers exhibit three outer petals and three inner petals. While the petals exhibit a pale yellow or cream hue, the flower's inner base radiates a vibrant red tone.[4] Its pollen is released in permanent tetrads.