Xylopia acutiflora

Xylopia acutiflora (Dunal.) A. Rich is a small tree that grows up to 15 m high, it belongs to the Annonaceae family.

Xylopia acutiflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Magnoliales
Family:	Annonaceae
Genus:	Xylopia
Species:	X. acutiflora
Binomial name
Xylopia acutiflora A. Richard
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)

Description

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]

Distribution

Native to West Africa, found in lowland forests.^[2]

Uses

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.