Xylopia nitida

Xylopia nitida
Botanical illustration of Xylopia nitida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Annonaceae
Genus: Xylopia
Species:
X. nitida
Binomial name
Xylopia nitida
Synonyms

Unona concolor Willd.
Uvaria zeylanica Aubl.
Waria zeylanica Aubl.
Xylopia aromatica Baill.
Xylopia cinerea Sandwith
Xylopia nitida var. nervosa R.E.Fr.
Xylopicrum nitidum (Dunal) Kuntze

Xylopia nitida is a species of plant in the Annonaceae family. It is native to Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.[2] Michel Félix Dunal, the botanist who first formally described the species, named it after the shiny (nitidus in Latin) upper surface of its leaves.[3][4]

Description

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It is a tree reaching 20 meters in height. The young branches are covered in dense pale brown hairs, but as they mature they become hairless. Its narrow, elliptical, papery leaves are 8.5-13 by 3-4.5 centimeters. The leaves have pointed bases and tapering tips, with the tapering portion 5-10 millimeters long. The leaves are shiny and hairless on their upper surfaces, and have dense, slivery-white to brown hairs that lay flat on their lower surfaces. Its petioles are 2-6 millimeters long. Its Inflorescences occur in the axils of leaves or fallen leaves. Each inflorescence has up to 8 flowers. Each flower is on a pedicel that is 1-13 by 1-3 millimeters. Its flowers have 3 oval to triangular sepals that are 1-2 millimeters long. The lower part of the sepals are fused at their margins to form a cup-shaped calyx that is 4-5 millimeters long. Its 6 petals are arranged in two rows of 3. The orange outer petals are 18-20 by 3-5 millimeter. The orange inner petals are 15 by 1-2 millimeters. Its flowers have 170-270 stamen that are 1-1.5 millimeters long. The stamen are attached to a receptacle that forms a cone that is 1.8-2.2 by 1.2-1.5 millimeters. Its flowers have 20-30 carpels. Its stigma are capped with soft hairs. The hairless, green to red, narrow, cylindrical fruit occur in clusters of 10-27. The fruit are 10-60 millimeters long with longitudinal grooves. Each fruit has 4-6 egg-shaped seeds that are 5-6.5 millimeters long.[5][6]

Reproductive biology

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The pollen of Xylopia nitida is shed as permanent tetrads.[7]

Distribution and habitat

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It has been observed growing in subtropical forests, tropical moist lowlands, and savanna.[1][6]

Uses

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Its leaf oils contain terpinenes, cymene, and limonene.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b Crispim, G.; Arguello, L.; Martinelli, G.; Erkens, R.H.J. (2020). "Xylopia nitida". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T140938888A180243095. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T140938888A180243095.pt. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Xylopia nitida Dunal". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Stearn, William (2004). Botanical Latin. Portland, Ore. Newton Abbot: Timber Press David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-88192-627-9.
  4. ^ Dunal, Michel-Felix (1817). Monographie de la Famille des Anonacées [Monograph of the Anonaceae family] (in French and Latin). Paris: Treuttel et Würtz. p. 122. doi:10.5962/t.173118.
  5. ^ Maas, Paul J.; Mass, Hiltje; Miralha, M.S. (2007). "Flora da Reserva Ducke, Amazonas, Brasil: Annonaceae" [Flora of the Ducke Reserve, Amazonas, Brazil: Annonaceae]. Rodriguésia: Revista do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (in Portuguese and English). 58 (3): 617–663.
  6. ^ a b Pontes-Pires, Aline Fernandes; Barbosa, Maria Regina De V.; Johnson, David M. (2021). "Xylopia maasiana (Annonaceae), a New Species from the Brazilian Amazon, and Taxonomic Notes on Xylopia nitida Dunal". Systematic Botany. 46 (2): 273–279. doi:10.1600/036364421X16231782047424. S2CID 237217245.
  7. ^ Walker, James W. (1971). "Pollen Morphology, Phytogeography, and Phylogeny of the Annonaceae". Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University. 202 (202): 1–130. doi:10.5962/p.272704. JSTOR 41764703. S2CID 249081277.
  8. ^ Maia, José Guilherme S.; Andrade, Eloisa Helena A.; Da Silva, Ana Carla M.; Oliveira, Jorge; Carreira, Léa Maria M.; Araújo, Josiele S. (2005). "Leaf volatile oils from four Brazilian Xylopia species". Flavour and Fragrance Journal. 20 (5): 474–477. doi:10.1002/ffj.1499.