''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 forest
Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial f ...
s. It is threatened due to
habitat loss
Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...
by clearance of forest.
It was first described as ''Melodorum africanum'' in 1862 by
George Bentham.
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.
Distribution
''Xylopia africana'' grows in montane and submontane mossy forests at elevations of 900–2000 m.
[ It occurs in southeastern ]Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
(Obudu
Obudu is a local government area and town in Cross River State, Nigeria. The area features a tourist resort, Obudu Mountain Resort, which hosts an annual mountain running competition called the Obudu Ranch International Mountain Race. The town of O ...
), western Cameroon
Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...
( Mount Cameroon, Bakossi, Rumpi Hills
The Rumpi Hills are an undulating mountain range with its highest peak, Mount Rata about located between the villages of Dikome Balue and Mofako Balue, Ndian division in the Southwest region of Cameroon. The hills are situated at 4°50’N 9°0 ...
, Fosimondi, Bali Ngemba), São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe (; pt, São Tomé e Príncipe (); English: " Saint Thomas and Prince"), officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe ( pt, República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe), is a Portuguese-speaking i ...
( São Tomé Island) and Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea ( es, Guinea Ecuatorial; french: Guinée équatoriale; pt, Guiné Equatorial), officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea ( es, link=no, República de Guinea Ecuatorial, french: link=no, République de Guinée équatoria ...
( Bioko island).
References
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
* 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
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5467465
africana
Flora of Bioko
Flora of Cameroon
Flora of Nigeria
Flora of São Tomé Island
Vulnerable flora of Africa
Plants described in 1862
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
Taxa named by Daniel Oliver
Taxa named by George Bentham