Annona squamosa (Sugar Apple)

Native from Mexico to Colombia, this small deciduous fruit tree usually reaches 15 to 20 feet tall. In Colombia, it occurs between about 650 and 4,300 feet. The sweet, creamy pulp is eaten fresh or used in ice cream and milkshakes. The fruit consists of segments that separate easily when ripe. Its seeds are toxic and should not be eaten. Sap beetles pollinate the fragrant flowers, and hand pollination can improve fruit set and shape. It has naturalized in northern and eastern Australia and is invasive on continental islands of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Photographed in the department of Quindio, Colombia.