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Annonaceae FAMILY

Xylopia aethiopica

Xylopia aethiopica

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Xylopia aethiopica is an evergreen tree with a many-branched, narrow crown; it can grow 15 - 30 metres tall. The clear, straight bole, which can be 25 - 70cm in diameter, often has short prop roots or buttresses[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. , 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ]. Ethiopian pepper is a multipurpose tree that is very important in the local economy, supplying foods, a wide range of medicines, wood and many other commodities. The fruit was at one time exported to Europe. It remains an important item of trade throughout parts of Africa, sold in local markets as a spice and medicine[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ]. The tree is often cultivated near villages and is often protected when growing in the forest[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ]. It is also sometimes planted as an ornamental and to provide shade[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. , 364 Title Field Guide to the Moist Forest Trees of Tanzania. Publication Author Lovett J.C.; Ruffo C.K.; Gereau R.E.; Taplin J.R.D Website http://www.york.ac.uk/res/celp/webpages/projects/ecology/tree%20guide/introduction.htm Publisher Frontier Year 0 ISBN 1-873070-33-0 Description A lovely little book giving a basic identification guide to more than 650 species of trees growing in Tanzania. It is also available to view on the internet. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical
Native RangeTropical Africa - Senegal to Sudan, south to Angola, Zambia and Mozambique.
HabitatLowland rainforest, coastal brackish swamps and littoral formations, and deciduous and fringing forests of the Guinean savannah zones[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ].