Botanical Name - Anona squamosa

----- A. squamosa, Linn., F.B.I. I. 1-78. Brandi's Ind. Trees, 22. Gamble's Ind. Timbers, 20. Vern. Sherifa, Sitaphal, Hind. Sitapalam, Tel. The Custard-apple tree.

----- Am small tree. Bark thin, grey. Leaves oblong lanceolate, 2-3 by 3/4-1 1/2 in. long., pellucid - dotted, with a pecular smell Flowers greenish, single or in pairs, on pedicles as long as flower. Sepals small; Petals 6, 3 exterior petals lanceolate, triquetrous, thick and flesh, 1 in. definite. Carpels united into a large fleshy fruit, 2-4 in. diam.; Seeds unmerous, embedded in a soft pulp, oblong brownish black.

----- Introduced from the West Indies had had now naturalized. It is very common in a wild state all over the State, especially near old Forts, while it is also frequently cultivated for its fruit. The acrid seeds are fatal to insects, and for this purpose, powdered and mixed with gram flour, are used as an application to the hair. Wood soft, close-grained, greyish-white, too small for any use. The seeds of this species are proving valuable for expressing oil which after purification can be put to many uses. This species is also proving useful in afforestation bare, eroded and denuded areas of the State. Ther beat variety of fruit is found in Mahaboobnagar district.