Annona vepretorum

Annona vepretorum is an evergreen tree in the Annonaceae family. Its home is northeast Brazil, which includes Bahia. Local names include araticum and pinha da Caatinga. It grows in the Caatinga, a hot forest region with dry seasons. There, it grows among denser trees on ground that drains well. People gather fruit from wild trees and grow the tree too.

Garden sources give a height and spread near 20 feet [6 metres]. Wider accounts give heights of 10–33 feet [3–10 metres]. The tree grows slowly, with branches often low on the trunk. The trunk can reach 1–1.3 feet [0.3–0.4 metres] across. It keeps its leaves all year. The sources give no details of leaf shape or bark. They give no flower details or time of bloom either.

The fruit has soft, jelly-like flesh that tastes sweet and tart. People eat the pulp raw. Fruits can reach 0.33 feet [0.1 metres] long. They may span 0.2 feet [0.06 metres] and weigh 250–350 grams. People grow this tree mainly for its fruit. PFAF says it is self-fertile: it can set fruit on its own. The same source says it draws wildlife and suits food forests. The sources report no known hazards. They give no full safety review, though.

Grow this tree in full sun, in soil that drains well. It prefers light soil. PFAF also lists sand, loam, and clay as suitable soils. That source says it copes with poor soil and varied pH. Once trees take root, they withstand drought and prefer dry soil. The native climate has six to eleven rainless months each year. Rainfall there totals 250 to 1,000 millimetres a year. Mean yearly temperatures range from 24 to 26°C. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12 for growing this tree.

Seeds can be slow to sprout and sprout at uneven times, even after treatment. Their hard coats can block water uptake. Scarification, which means scuffing the coat, and soaking help seeds take up water before sowing. PFAF advises separate pots in light shade at this stage. Seeds may take 80–120 days to sprout, and few do. People use the light wood for boards and packing containers. It has poor resistance to insect attack. Useful Tropical Plants reports local use as medicine but gives no treatment details. It records Least Concern status from the 2019 IUCN assessment.