Xylopia africana

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
Xylopia africana seed pods
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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

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]

References

  1. 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 Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
  3. "Melodorum africanum". Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  4. 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

  • 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
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