This mango-sized fruit caught my eye when I parked at a nature preserve recently. It was a new species to me so I snapped a few photos and thankfully a park ranger was able to identify it as an Alligator Apple (Annona glabra).

I’ve read about the fruit, but never spotted one before. When fully ripened in the Fall, the fruit has a custardy texture that tastes like a mild melon. Humans must proceed with caution because the seeds are toxic. Though the toxin doesn’t appear to affect our large swamp crocodilians, as they are known to devour the whole fruit, often launching from the water to snap one from branches above (hence the plant’s common name).

Early native populations used the poison in the seeds to stun fish. This medium-height wetland tree native to Florida’s southern swamps has another claim to fame, it’s a host tree for the gorgeous, yet sadly endangered, Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii).

Next time I’m wandering through the swamp or a mangrove tunnel or a cypress bald I’ll keep a lookout for this cool tree.