: Family Annonaceae

Based on the syllabus prescribed by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University for B. Sc.II Botany, paper: VII- Taxonomy of Angiosperms.

1. Family-Annonaceae
Dr. A.S.Naik

2. Classification
•Flowering plants Division-Phanerogams
•Seeds are enclosed inside the fruits. Sub-division-Angiosperms
•Seeds with two cotyledons, Leaves with reticulate venation Class-Dicotyledons
•Petals are free -Subclass-Polypetalae
•Thalamus prominent. All the floral whorls are attached to the thalamus Series-Thalamiflorae
•Stamens and carpels many and free. Order-Ranales
•Simple exstipulateleaves. Flowers trimerousStamens, carpels many and free. Family-Annonaceae

3. Distribution, Habit and habitat
•Mostly tropical, some midlatitude,deciduous and evergreen
trees and shrubs, some lianas.
•105 accepted genera and 2500 known species.
•Over 25 genera and 200 species reported from India, mostly
from its peninsular region.
•Annonais represented by over 120 species, and Xylopia by
about 150 species.
•Annona squamosa,Cananga odorata,Arta botrys
odoratissimus, Polyalthialongifoliacommon Indian spp.

4. A.squamosaA. reticulataPolyalthia(Ashoka)
ArtabotrysCananga

5. Description
•Root-Extensively branched tap
roots.
•Stem-Woody, branched, erect,
rarely climbing, aerial, hard.
•Leaves-Simple, alternate, two-
ranked, exstipulate, petiolate,
apex acute, obtuse or even
mucronate, ovate, obovate,
coriaceous, glabrous, unicostate
reticulate, gland-dotted and so
aromatic.
•Inflorescence-Solitary axillary, or
terminal, or leaf opposed,
sometimes cauliflorous ,i.e.
flowers occur on stem.

6. Floral morphology
•Flower-Bracteate or ebracteate,
ebracteolate, pedicellate, complete,
hermaphrodite, rarely unisexual,
actinomorphic, rarely zygomorphic,
hypogynous.
•Calyx-Sepals 3, or sometimes 6
arranged in 2 whorls of 3 each,
polysepalous, or rarely basally
connate, valvate, rarely imbricate.
•Corolla-Generally 6 petals, arranged
in two whorls of 3 each, sometimes
only 3 petals, polypetalous, valvate or
slightly imbricate.

7. Floral morphology contd.
•Androecium-Stamens numerous, polyandrous, flimant short and thick,connective continues beyond the anther and produces a dilated head,ad nate,extrorse.
•Gynoecium-Carpels numerous, arranged spirally on the receptacle, apocarpous, superior, unilocular, one to many anatropous ovles, parietal or sometimes basal or marginal placentation, style short or absent, stigma sessile, simple or
trilobed.
•Fruitsan etaerio of berries

9. Economic Importance
•Annonasquamosa,L(Sitaphal): Plants are cultivated for edible
fruits. Custard powder is made from the fruit. Fruits are also used in
the preparation of milkshakes and sweets.
•Annonareticulate,L (ramphal) Plants are cultivated for the edible
fruits.
•Polyalthialongifolia, Benth& Hook. (Ashoka) This beautiful tree is
grown in the garden as an Avenue plant.
•Artabotrysunicantus, MerrIt is evergreen climber grown in the
garden. Sweet scented flowers are used in perfume industry.
•Canangaodorata, Hook Small evergreen tree is grown in the
garden. Scented flowers yield perfume.