Xylopia africana

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Xylopia africana
Xylopia africana seed pods.png
Xylopia africana seed pods
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Annonaceae
Genus: Xylopia
Species:
X. africana
Binomial name
Xylopia africana
Synonyms [2]
  • Melodorum africanum Benth.
  • Xylopicrum africanum (Oliv.) Kuntze

Xylopia africana is a species of plant in the Annonaceae family. It is found in west-central Africa. It is restricted to submontane and lower montane forests. It is threatened due to habitat loss by clearance of forest. [1] It was first described as Melodorum africanum in 1862 by George Bentham. [3]

Contents

Description

The tree Xylopia africana is up to 20 metres tall, DBH 30 cm. It has yellow to yellow-orange flowers. Its seed pods are 6.6-10.5 cm long and contain up to 5 seeds. [4]

Distribution

Xylopia africana grows in montane and submontane mossy forests at elevations of 900–2000 m. [4] It occurs in southeastern Nigeria (Obudu), western Cameroon (Mount Cameroon, Bakossi, Rumpi Hills, Fosimondi, Bali Ngemba), São Tomé and Príncipe (São Tomé Island) and Equatorial Guinea (Bioko island). [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Cheek, M. (2014). "Xylopia africana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T45423A3001846. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T45423A3001846.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. "Xylopia africana". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 29 January 2019 via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superceded by World Flora Online
  3. "Melodorum africanum". Tropicos . Missouri Botanical Garden . Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  4. 1 2 Johnson, D.M.; Murray, N.A. (2018). "A revision of Xylopia L. (Annonaceae): the species of Tropical Africa". PhytoKeys (97): 1–252. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.97.20975 .

Further reading