The Annonaceae family, classified under the division of flowering plants, includes tropical and midlatitude trees and shrubs, with 105 genera and 2500 species, many found in India's peninsular region. The family is significant for its economic value, with species like Annona squamosa and Cananga odorata cultivated for their edible fruits and fragrant flowers used in the perfume industry. Key characteristics include woody stems, simple leaves, and various flower morphologies including numerous stamens and carpels.

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 exstipulate leaves. Flowers
trimerous Stamens, 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.
• Annona is represented by over 120 species, and Xylopia by
about 150 species.
• Annona squamosa, Cananga odorata, Arta botrys
odoratissimus, Polyalthia longifolia common Indian spp.

4. A.squamosa A. reticulata Polyalthia(Ashoka)
Artabotrys Cananga

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.
• Fruits an etaerio of berries

9. Economic Importance
• Annona squamosa,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.
• Annona reticulate, L (ramphal) Plants are cultivated for the edible
fruits.
• Polyalthia longifolia, Benth & Hook. (Ashoka) This beautiful tree is
grown in the garden as an Avenue plant.
• Artabotrys unicantus, Merr It is evergreen climber grown in the
garden. Sweet scented flowers are used in perfume industry.
• Cananga odorata, Hook Small evergreen tree is grown in the
garden. Scented flowers yield perfume.