Pond Apple
Annona glabra
Plant Family: Annonaceae
Leaves: Alternate, simple, leathery, broadly elliptic, shiny green above, paler below, to 13 cm; the leaf edges tend to turn up.
Bark: Gray-brown, blocky to lightly fissured; the trunk is typically short and the base is often buttressed, especially in standing water.
Flowers: The three-part buds give rise to white or light yellow flowers with six petals that are seen from spring into summer.
Fruits: Large, apple-like, to 15 cm long, green, ripening to yellow, edible; late summer to fall, persisting on the tree into winter. The fruit floats and transports the seeds to new habitats.
Habitat: Common in swamps and damp woods throughout the southern peninsula, Pond Apple is never found in drier habitats.
Growth Form: Small to medium-sized tree.
Similar Species: The leaves could be confused with the figs, but the large fruits, if present, are unlike any other swamp-dwelling tree.
Comments: The large fruits are relished by wildlife (even alligators may eat the fruits!). Pond Apple has been introduced to Hawaii and Australia, where it is considered an invasive species.
