Family: Annonaceae

Classification: Annonaceae is in the Magnoliidae.

Diagnosis: Trees with alternate leaves, etc.

Habit: Shrubs or small to large trees, sometimes canopy trees, rarely lianas.

Main axis: Bark strong, fibrous, easily removed in long strips, usually aromatic when cut; the slash exposing net-like vein patterns in the wood.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, distichous, simple.

Inflorescence: Inflorescence axillary, ramiflorous, or terminal.

Flowers: Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual or rarely unisexual, generally 3-merous; sepals 3, distinct or connate at the base or completely connate, sometimes forming a cup; petals 6, usually in two whorls, usually free, cream, white, yellow, red, or purple; stamens numerous, spirally arranged; gynoecium apocarpous, the ovaries superior, the carpels one to numerous, the stigma usually sessile; placentation basal or lateral, rarely apical, the ovules one to many.

Fruit: Fruits typically apocarpous consisting of 2 to many stipitate, indehiscent or dehiscent monocarps, or partially to completely syncarpous.

Seeds: Seeds one to many per monocarp, sometimes arillate; the endosperm ruminate.

Uses: The strong bark is often used to tie and carry cargo.

Notes: Sometimes confused with the Lauraceae or Myristicaceae when sterile. However, the Annonaceae can be differentiated by strong bark that peels in long strips with the removal of a leaf or stem, and a monopodial branching pattern.