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]
| Xylopia africana | |
|---|---|
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| Xylopia africana seed pods | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Annonaceae |
| Genus: | Xylopia |
| Species: | X. africana
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| Binomial name | |
| Xylopia africana | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description edit
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 edit
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]
References edit
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ "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 Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
- ^ "Melodorum africanum". Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ a b 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 edit
- Yvette Harvey, Barthelemy Tchiengue, Martin Cheek, The plants of Lebialem Highlands, (Bechati-Fosimondi-Besali) Cameroon : a conservation checklist, Kew, Richmond, 2010, p. 68 ISBN 9781842463994
- Daniel Oliver, "Anonaceae", in Flora of Tropical Africa, 1, 1868, p. 30
- Jean-Michel Onana, Synopsis des espèces végétales vasculaires endémiques et rares du Cameroun : check-liste pour la gestion durable et la conservation de la biodiversité [Synopsis on Endemic and Rare Vascular Species of Cameroon], Yaoundé, Ministère de la Recherche scientifique et de l'Innovation, coll. « Flore du Cameroun » (no 40), 2013, p. 71
- Jean-Michel Onana, Martin Cheek, "Xylopia africana", Red Data Book of the Flowering Plants of Cameroon: IUCN Global Assessments, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2011, p. 82-83 ISBN 9781842464298