ROLLINIA
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rollinia deliciosa
FAMILY: Annonaceae
The genus Rollinia contains more than a dozen species indigenous to the West Indies, Central and South America. Two of these, the R. Rollinia pulchrinervia (deliciosa) and the R. mucosa, have been grown in South Florida for some time and appear well-adapted to our warmer climatic area.
The medium-sized trees are vigorous growers and under favorable conditions can reach a height of 20 ft. in about three years after being set out in the field. The obovate-oblong or elliptical leaves are 6 to 10 inches long. The pale greenish-yellow to cream-yellow fruit is roundish-oblate in shape, 3 to 8 inches in length with a soft, sweet, whitish-translucent pulp in which are embedded numerous seeds. As there can be a variation in fruit size, fruit quality and productivity among seedling populations, the vegetative propagation of superior strains could prove beneficial.
In South Florida the Rollinia is attacked by chalcid fly mealybugs and scale. In Brazil R. pulchrinervia goes under the names of "Biriba" and "Fruta de Condessa".
DATE: July 1980
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