Rollinia deliciosa seed
LATIN NAME: Annona mucosa
COMMON NAME: Biriba
Biriba is the fine, large, soft-fruited tree of the warm lowlands, and its round, yellow-green, knobbly fruits have made it a familiar of the warm markets for a very long time. The open, round-headed tree carries the large, glossy, oval leaves, and the small, cream flowers open among the leaves through the warm season, to be followed by the large, round, yellow-green fruits with the soft, sweet, aromatic, custard-like pulp. The fruits are eaten fresh by the spoonful or used in the drinks and the desserts. It is a fine, generous tree of the warm, sheltered, moist garden.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
Biriba has a steady and growing place in the plant science, and it has been studied for its soft, sweet, custard-like fruits and its place among the warm-climate fruit trees. The large, knobbly fruits and the aromatic, soft pulp have been looked into, and the plant keeps showing up in the work on the under-used fruit trees of the warm lowlands. The large, glossy leaves and the open, round-headed habit have also made it a fine garden tree, and it is a regular subject of the studies of the annona family and the warm-climate soft fruits.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
Biriba is grown for the large, soft, aromatic fruits. The round, yellow-green fruits have a fine, sweet, custard-like pulp that is eaten fresh by the spoonful or used in the drinks, the ice creams and the desserts of the warm world. The tree is a fine, generous addition to the warm, sheltered garden, and the large, glossy leaves give it a handsome look through the season. It has been written up in the food and the horticultural papers for its soft, aromatic fruits, and it is a fine, generous tree of the warm, sheltered, moist garden.
Biriba is a fine, generous fruit tree of the warm lowlands, and the large, yellow-green, knobbly fruits are a treasure of the warm markets. The soft, sweet, custard-like pulp is eaten fresh by the spoonful, and the tree is a handsome, dependable grower.
In the right spot the biriba is a fine, dependable, generous tree, and it asks for very little beyond the warmth, the shelter and the rich, moist ground. The large, glossy leaves and the round, knobbly fruits keep the tree interesting through the season.
The biriba is a fine, generous, dependable fruit tree of the warm, sheltered garden, and the large, round, yellow-green, knobbly fruits are a treasure of the warm markets. The soft, sweet, aromatic, custard-like pulp is eaten fresh by the spoonful, and the large, glossy leaves give the tree a handsome, bold look through the season.
To grow the biriba from seed, wash the flat seeds clean of the pulp and sow them fresh at a shallow depth in pots of moist, free-draining soil, keep them in a warm, sheltered spot and water gently. The seedlings come up within a few weeks and grow on fast in the warmth. A warm, sheltered, moist spot with the rich soil will see the large, glossy leaves and the soft, yellow-green fruits in a few seasons.
Rollinia deliciosa is a species of flowering plant in the custard-apple family, Annonaceae, that is native to tropical South America. It is cultivated for its edible fruits, commonly known as biriba or wild sugar-apple, throughout the world’s tropics and subtropics.
Biriba is a fast-growing, flood-tolerant, sun-loving tropical tree, with leaves up to 35 cm long. It can reach a height of 4–15 m (13–49 ft), which can bear fruit from seed within 3 years. The fruit is large, conical or round, green when unripe, ripening to yellow. Its surface is covered with soft spines or protuberances which bruise and blacken with handling, giving it an unappealing appearance. This delicacy, together with a shelf life of less than a week has limited its commercial cultivation. However it is an increasingly popular tree for homestead cultivation in tropical areas.
The fruit pulp is very soft and sweet, tasting somewhat like a lemon meringue pie. Some reports of the flavor are extremely favorable.