Family: Annonaceae
Common name: Rollinia, Biribá, Wild sweetsop, Lemon meringue pie fruit, Aratiku, Wild sugar-apple, Mullan chakka
Rollinia is a beautiful ornamental or fruit tree that can be grown in tropical, warm wet weather. They are native to South America and have now been introduced to many countries in Asia.
Belonging to the same family as the Custard apple and Soursop, the fruits have similarities in shape as well as texture.
Tree Characteristics
These trees are relatively short and well-rounded, about 10-12 meters high. Trunk is slender and smooth with a greyish-brown bark that sometimes peels off in small patches as the tree matures and grows.
Leaves of the Rollinia tree are broad and bright green, about 15-20 cm long, with very prominent venation. Since the branches of the tree can grow horizontally, they look full and rounded with a thick foliage of leaves.
Rollinia flowers are very unique and pretty, with three distinct wings or petals at an angle from each other. The texture and color of the flowers are very similar to those of other Annona species – thick, fleshy, waxy, and light green in color.
These flowers grow in small clusters of 3-4, each flower about 5-8 cm in diameter. Pollination is done by insects, particularly bees, that are attracted to the sweet scent emitted by the flowers when they bloom in abundance.
In Kerala, flowers appear during late summer, and the fruiting continues through summer and rainy season.
Fruits are unique, roughly heart-shaped, with thick spikes or protrusions covering the entire surface. They are initially green, ripening to a bright yellow color, after which they do not store well beyond a few days. Each fruit can weigh between 500 grams to 2 kilos when mature.
The flesh inside the Rollinia fruit is white, soft, creamy, and slightly slippery with a flavor reminiscent of the custard apple. The taste is light and refreshing, though some variants might have a slight tartness to it.
These fruits have many hard, oval-shaped, black seeds, embedded in the flesh, again similar to many Annona fruits.
Gardening Tips
Rollinia trees require good sunlight and regular rainfall, typical of tropical countries. They cannot tolerate frost and hence should be grown in greenhouses in temperate weather. Soil should be rich and well-draining, as the tree cannot stand water logging.
Watering is needed when the tree is small and also during extreme summer. Once the tree is established in the soil, it does not need much care and attention.
Fertilizing every 2-3 months, and just before the flowering season with a well-balanced, long-release fertilizer can help the tree grow and yield well. Cow dung, vermicompost, bone meal, and neem cake can make good fertilizers for Rollinia trees.
Since these trees have a well-rounded canopy, make sure that they are planted 4-5 meters from each other, or from other trees. Pruning can be done when the tree is young, to keep them short and well-rounded.
Uses of Rollinia
These trees are mostly grown for their lightly-flavored, delicious fruits that are mostly eaten raw. But they can be used in cakes, pies, and ice creams. Fermented fruit is used for making wine.
Parts of the Rollinia tree have medicinal uses and are used in the treatment of stomach ailments, and rheumatism. Seeds of the tree are quite hard and are used as beads in necklaces and bracelets.
Wood of the tree is quite strong and durable, though it is not usually used for heavy construction. Long strips of the bark can be used as cordage to bind and transport stuff, since the fibers are quite strong.
In addition to these uses, Rollinia trees are excellent ornamental trees for home gardens, parks, and landscaped areas since they are ever green, with a beautiful, rounded crown.
These trees look beautiful even when they are not flowering and fruiting, with their lush green foliage.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and grafting.
Since the seeds have a thick coat, it helps to soak and also scarify them before planting. Seeds collected from mature, ripe fruits should be cleaned to remove any flesh sticking to it, and soaked in water for a few hours before they are planted in moist, well-draining soil.
Germination from seeds is quite slow, and the trees also take a long time to bear fruits.
Grafting small branches onto a compatible rootstock can help propagate the tree more efficiently, retaining the characteristics of the parent tree, and producing fruits quicker.
Photographed at: Kings Flora Organic Farm Resort, Wayanad
