When we were working to control the evil air potato at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, volunteer Ken Gonyo (Class of 2013) asked about the green apple-like fruit adjacent to the entrance to the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL). Pictured above is a nickel-sized fruit of pond apple (Annona glabra) at FMEL on 6-7-2014.
This fruit is now much larger — about the size of an apple …
This plant is located on the bank of the ditch to the east of the FMEL entry driveway …
The smooth bark is distinctive: Dark reddish brown with long shallow grooves …
Each fruit contains many flat seeds. The fruit is edible but not especially palatable, though wildlife consume and spread it.
Pond apple grows easily and quickly from seed in moist to wet places. It grows near salt water, when protected from direct salt spray, as shown here at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge along with giant leather fern (Acrostichum danaeifolium) …
Pond apple makes an excellent, attractive landscape plant for wet places in your yard …
Categories: Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Wetland plants
Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area 
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