Xylopia acutiflora | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Magnoliids |
Order: | Magnoliales |
Family: | Annonaceae |
Genus: | Xylopia |
Species: | X. acutiflora
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Binomial name | |
Xylopia acutiflora A. Richard
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Synonyms | |
Unona acutiflora Dunal Coelocline acutiflora (Dunal) Xylopicrum acutiflorum (Dunal) K Unona oxypetala Candolle ex Dunal Coelocline? oxypetala (Candolle ex Dunal) Xylopia oxypetala (Candolle ex Dunal) |
Xylopia acutiflora (Dunal.) A. Rich is a small tree that grows up to 15 m high, it belongs to the Annonaceae family.
Brown pubescent twigs mixed with erect and short hairs. Leaf blades chartaceous, concolorous - slightly discolorous, elliptic - elliptic-lanceolate, larger blades, 5.3 - 11.7 cm long and 2.3 - 4.3 cm wide; acute to acuminate at apex and cuneate at base. Flowers are solitary [1] Fruit green - reddish tinged exterior, scarlet endocarp, up to born on a pedicel. Seed, ovate- ellipsoid, monocarps have two rows of seed. [1]
Native to West Africa, found in lowland forests. [2]
In Ghana and among the Ehotile people of Akanland, root extracts from the species is used as a sexual stimulant and as a chewing stick. [3] Seeds are crushed and used as spice, wood obtained are used as material to make canoe paddles, spears or bows.