ARATICAM – CAGAO
(Annona cacans)

A tree portion of araticam-cagao

Family: Annonaceae

Other names: Corticao, quaresma

Araticum-cagão is a fruit from Central America.  It is native to Atlantic Forest and Cerrado vegetation in Brazil and Paraguay.

            The fruits are sweet and eaten by local people.  However, these cannot be eaten in large quantities as it might affect you stomach.

Description:

A deciduous tree, 12-16 m tall; trunk suberose and flaky, 50-70 cm in diameter.

            Araticum-cagão is the largest tree of the family Annonaceae and can reach a height upto 26 metres.

Foliage of araticam-cagao

            Leaves simple, elongated, with yellowish cream colour ribs, glabrous on both surfaces, 8-17 cm long.

            Flowers yellowish, solitary or in groups of 2-4 of both sexes.

            Fruits compound (syncarp), green even when ripe with an almost smooth surface, pulp succulent and aromatic, sweet.

            Seeds many.

Utilization:

The fruits are eaten.  These have laxative properties, so should not be eaten in large quantity. Consume the fruits sucking the pulp that is stuck in a small membrane (this has a bitter taste and is laxative if swallowed)

Araticam-cagao fruit

The pulp is great for making ice cream juices and cake.

The wood has the same applications as the Eucalyptus.

Cultivation:

Though araticum-cagão fruits are eaten by people, still it is rarely cultivated.  The fruits come from wild trees only.

Seeds of araticam-cagao

            However, it is a subtropical plant and resists drought of up to 5 months and the frost of up to – 3 degree. It can adopt to any kind of soil but should be planted in full sun.

            For raising new plants, the only method is seed.