When paddling out with Wildlife Research Team, there is a wide variety of flora and fauna to enjoy. One plant that many can overlook is Annona glabra L., commonly known as the pond-apple, sometimes called alligator-apple, corkwood, bobwood, and monkey-apple. It seems that American alligators (and some turtles) sometimes eat the fruit when it falls on the shore or into the water in their habitat. This may be due to the decaying fruit releasing some gases similar to decaying flesh, or the 'gators may be a bit more opportunistic than we generally give them credit for. In Florida, squirrels, raccoon and opossum are also known to feed on the ripe fruit.

With a liking for wet soils and moderate salt tolerance, when planted back from the spray and not flooded with salt water, the alligator-apple makes an interesting landscape plant. Generally flowering after three years or less from seed, the large cream-colored flowers, and the buttresses that develop with age make these an attractive addition in many places. The fruits vary from tree to tree, and most believe them to be poisonous: the well informed know better.

Early Florida pioneers and settlers used the fruit fresh and made into custards - which led to some calling the trees custard-apple. Custard-apple is now mostly used for A. reticulata L. and less frequently for A. cherimola Mill, the cherimoya. Both are fruits that are generally eaten uncooked. Even with seedling variations, alligator-apple is edible and can be good. The problem is that the fruits start out as hard green bitter fruits that grow into hard yellow bitter fruits. Once picked, when fully grown and yellow, you must wait till the fruit ripens to the point of being easy to pull apart or starts to fall apart itself. Sadly, and to the frustration of many, this ripe stage is quickly followed by overripe and off-tasting. I frequently tell people that the alligator-apple has a two to three hour window of enjoyable edibility - an exaggeration, but not by much. Personally, I like them, but most Floridians, who know about Annona prefer sugar-apple (A. squamosa) or atemoya (Annona squamosa x A. cherimola). The cherimoya, so popular in California, does not do well in Florida. My favorite of all the Annona is the red sugar-apple called 'Whitman Purple' (A. squamosa).

There is a great deal of excitement in some medical research laboratories over a group of substances called annonaceous acetogenins found in many Annona. One of these annonaceous acetogenins, bullatacin, shows 300 times more anticancer activity than Taxol. Some are calling the annonaceous acetogenins the anti-cancer stars of tomorrow. The first Uvaricin was first of the annonaceous acetogenins was discovered by Dr. Jolad in 1982, since then scientists have been isolated more than 400 acetogenins. These acetogenins are distributed in the root, bark, seed, leaf and fruit.

Other medical possibilities exist and recent research into a hexane extract of the stem bark of A. glabra shows substantial antimicrobial, antifungal and moderate insecticidal, sporicidal and cytotoxic properties.

Due to the dwarfing effects, cold tolerance, and adaptability to wet locations a great deal of interest exists in using alligator-apple as rootstock for other more desirable Annona species. Results have been varied, with some researchers claiming success by using select seedling lines or special grafting techniques, while others report little or no success. Horticultural scientist Laymond Hardy conducted research that indicated a greater success in grafting by using elongated cuts in the graft union. Horticulturist Har Mahdeem has reported on some apparent successes using select seedling strains. Extending the range of more acceptable Annona into wetter areas would allow significant increases of potential crop land in several countries. Research into this area continues in many locations.

The degree of salt tolerance is also an area of conflicting reports, with most believing that alligator-apple does not tolerate long term flooding by brackish or salt water. Yet, a paper by Dr. D. R. Singh and Dr. R. P. Medhi, who have done extensive research on the Indian populations of this plant in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, claims that the seedlings are resistant to salinity and can be grown with seawater. Like grafting this is an area begging for further inquiry. These authors also list the following nutritional values for the fruit in their study:

TSS (Brix) 5.9
Acidity (%) 0.14-0.16
Total Sugar (%) 3.45 - 3.85
Vitamin C (mg/100 g) 3.15 - 3.54
Juice (%) 25 - 30
Zn (ppm) 0.1426
Fe (ppm) 0.3260
K (ppm) 45.4370

Alligator-apple is also in the same Family, Annonaceae, as the American pawpaw (Asimina triloba). You can see eight or so members of Asimina scattered about Florida and Georgia; they have a finger like fruit. If you are observant, you may see one or two in a couple of areas where Wildlife Research Team paddles.

If the most famous relative of the alligator-apple is the pawpaw (Asimina triloba), the ylang ylang, Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thomson, which produces fragrant flowers may be the second most famous. Their essential oil is used in perfume, Chanel No. 5 being most famous, and other scents. It is also used as an ingredient in a popular motion sickness remedy.

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