Annonaceae

Annona is a Latin word for corn or food from the harvest. Trees shrubs or vines, the stems often form a weak zig-zag, bark strong and fibrous when stripped off; leaves alternate but often appearing to be in the one plane. Oils secreted in many parts so plants are often fragrant. Flowers often pendulous, usually with 3 sepals and 6-12 petals; stamens usually numerous but with short filaments and a thick connective. Carpels numerous, apocarpous, fruits fleshy or dryish, may form an aggregate fruit as in the soursop; endosperm ruminate.