This tropical fruit tree is the Soursop, Annona muricata.

It has glossy, dark green leaves and produces unusual yellow-green flowers directly from the branches and sometimes even from the trunk. This is called cauliflory, and it allows the developing fruits to be supported by older, stronger wood.

The fruit is large, green, and covered with soft curved spines. Inside is a white, juicy pulp with a sweet-and-tart flavor, often described as a combination of pineapple, strawberry, and citrus.

Soursop is used in juices, smoothies, ice cream, and desserts throughout the Caribbean and tropical America. The black seeds, however, should not be eaten.

The tree is native to the tropical Americas and grows best in warm, humid conditions. Its flowers are pollinated mainly by small beetles, but natural pollination is sometimes incomplete, which can produce misshapen fruit.

When mature, the fruit softens and may become slightly yellow-green. Because it bruises easily, it is usually harvested by hand before it becomes fully ripe.

Soursop is valued not only for its distinctive fruit, but also as part of the traditional food culture of the Caribbean.