Annona squamosa

Scientific name: Annona squamosa L.

Family: Annonaceae

Bengali/Vernacular name: Ata, Sharifa, Luna, Sitaphal (Bengali); Aatol (Noakhali).

Tribal name: Mow-uh-payng (Chak), Nonna (Murang), Adhor-apang (Rakhaing).

English name: Custard apple, Sugar apple.

Description of the plant: A small evergreen tree with somewhat bushy habit. Leaves 5-7.5 cm long, oblong-lanceolate or elliptic. Flowers drooping, solitary or 2-4 together, greenish. Fruit aggregate, irregular spherical, yellowish green covered with rounded, fleshy tubercles, which represent the loosely-cohering carpels and separate readily when ripe. Seeds many, embedded in white custard-like granular pulp, deep brownish black, shining.

Plant parts used: Leaf.

Medicinal uses: The leaf decoction is employed in baths to alleviate rheumatic pain.
Leaf decoction is taken in cases of dysentery.

Crushed leaves are sniffed to overcome hysteria.

A decoction of the leaves is taken to treat cold and to clarify urine.

Distribution: It is planted all over the country.