Custard Apple (Annonaceae)
Did you know that Custard Apple (Annonaceae), known as Sitaphala thought to be native to India from its occurrence in ancient literature, paintings, and sculptures, dicovered prior to 1000 AD, had Indian influence and travelled as far as Timor and also claimed to be native to Americas?
Custard Apple, 'Annona reticulata', a tropical fruit plant with the scientific name Annonaceae in the custard apple family is known as Sitaphala in India, and is also known as the Bullocks Heart, Bull’s heart, Jamaica apple, Sugar Apple, Sweetsop, and netted custard apple.
It is thought to be native to India from its occurrence in ancient literature, paintings, and sculptures, discovered prior to 1000 AD. It had Indian influence and had travelled as far as Timor (an island at the southern end of Southeast Asia), and also claimed to be native to Americas. Its pictures are seen in the Ajanta cave paintings dated to 7th or 8th century AD where it is represented over and over again. Archaeological Survey of India site at Ahirua in the region of Ganga Plains also establishes its nativity to India, which needs to be correlated to the claim of its nativity to West Indies and surrounding regions from Central America to southern Mexico.
In Indian vernacular languages it is called: Atrupyum or Soitphal in Sanskrit; Sitaphal, Sharifa in Hindi; Sitaphala in Kannada; Seethapazham in Malayalam; Atta in Tamil; and Sita-phalamu in Telugu. Its Sanskrit name Soitphal is derived from the word 'shitah' meaning "cold", and 'phal' meaning "frut" , and eating a lot of it could gives human body a cold. It has cooling effect on the human body and hence the name Shitaphal.
Custard Apple, extensively cultivated in India, as elsewhere in the tropics, is fast and vigorous growing plant, small, deciduous or semi-evergreen, erect growing, perennial tree often grown for its edible fruits This tree sometimes reaching heights of 5-10 metres tall, prefers low elevations, and a warm, humid climate. Its leaves are large and oblong shaped with dark green colour. Leaves are deciduous and alternately arranged. Leaves are with a dull appearance and bad odour. Flowers are light green to pale yellow in colour and are fragrant. Flowers are normally borne in drooping clusters of 5 to 10. Flowers are never fully open. Its fruits, aggregate of berries, a heart shaped, large, compound fruit is dull-looking brown.
Fruit skin of Custard Apple is, however, tough and light green in colour when unripe. Ripe fruits are soft and tender. Mature fruits have a skin colour of yellow or brown which during ripening turns to deep reddish or brownish-red in coloiur thus resembles a "bullock's heart". Fruit skin of custard apple is reticulated or minutely networked and hence the plant has the name 'Annona reticulata'. Fruit flesh is sweet in taste with a thick, flesh consistency and hence the common name of the fruit as 'custard apple'. Numerous dark-brown or black, glossy seeds are found embedded within the fruit flesh. Fruit has a central core which is attached to a thick stem. It is easy to pull out the central stem from a ripe fruit,
The plant is traditionally used to treat epilepsy, dysentery, cardiac infections, worm infection, and ulcers. It has anti-fertlity, anti-tumor and abortifacient properties. Ethonolic extracts of the leaves and stem are reported to demonstrate anti-cancerous activity. The aquefous leaf extract is reported to ameliorate hyperthyroidism, which is often considered a causative factor of diabetes mellitus. The bark and shell of the plant are used in home-made medicines. It is also used to treat wounds, cuts, snakebites, liver disorders, skin eruptions, blotches, pimples, diarrhoea and sore throat.
- Narasipur Char
