Plant Story

This tree is a member of the annona (Annonaceae) family. The species generally goes unnoticed, until it produces its sweet, edible fruits, which are a vibrant fuchsia and grow peculiar protrusions. Its leaves are adorned by small, silver scales that facilitate the species identification, and its flowers are yellow and aromatic. The species has no known commercial uses, though it has great potential as an ornamental species. The tree inhabits primary or mature humid forests at low elevations, and is distributed from the south of Nicaragua to Colombia. In Costa Rica, the tree grows throughout both the Atlantic and Pacific slopes, though it is most common on the Osa Peninsula.