Xylopia longipetala De Wildeman & T. Durand, Ann. Mus. Congo, Ser . 2, Bot. 1(1): 4. 1899.

Johnson, David M. & Murray, Nancy A., 2018, A revision of Xylopia L. (Annonaceae): the species of Tropical Africa, PhytoKeys 97, pp. 1-252 : 146-152

34. Xylopia longipetala De Wildeman & T. Durand, Ann. Mus. Congo, Ser. 2, Bot. 1(1): 4. 1899. Figs 3E , 27A-F , 28B

Uvaria parviflora A. Richard in Guillemin, Perrottet, & A. Richard, Fl. Senegamb. tent., part 1, 9 + t. 3, fig. 1. 1831.

Coelocline ? Xylopia parviflora (A. Richard) A. de Candolle, Mém. Soc. Phys. Genève 5: 209. 1832.

Unona parviflora (A. Richard) Steudel, Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 2: 730. 1841.

Xylopia parviflora (A. Richard) Bentham, Trans. Linn. Soc. 23: 479. 1862, non X. parviflora Spruce, 1861.

Xylopicrum parviflorum (A. Richard) Kuntze, Revis. gen. pl. 1: 8. 1891.

Xylopia vallotii Chipp ex Hutchinson & Dalziel, Fl. W. Trop. Afr. 1(1): 53. Mar 1927, nom. nov. Type. SENEGAL. Ziguinchor Region [?], "crescit ad oram sylvarum et in locis siccis riparum Casamanciae prope Maloum," 3 or 4 Apr 1829, G. G.-S. Perrottet s. n. (lectotype, here designated: P! [00169145]; isotypes: B! [10 0273361, probable], BM! [000511054], G! [00190717], P! [00169144, plus 4 additional sheets lacking bar codes]).

Type.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO ["Belgian Congo "]. Équateur Province, Rég. III, Makanza [ “Bangala”], May 1896, A. Dewèvre 876 (holotype: BR!; isotypes: BR! [0000008825360, 0000008825377]) .

Description.

Shrub or small tree up to 15 m tall, d.b.h. up to 40 cm, bole cylindrical, sometimes fluted toward the base, crown branched profusely; bark dark gray to dark brown, occasionally whitish gray or yellowish, smooth. Twigs initially dark gray to brown, soon light gray, sparsely erect-pubescent, the hairs 0.1-0.5 mm long, soon glabrate; nodes frequently with two axillary branches. Leaf with larger blades 4.2-8.8 cm long, 1.7-3.7 cm wide, subcoriaceous to chartaceous, slightly discolorous, elliptic to oblong, lanceolate, lanceolate-ovate, or ovate-oblong, apex obtuse to acuminate, the acumen 4-8 mm long, base rounded and short-decurrent on petiole, glabrous or with a few hairs along lower midrib adaxially, sparsely appressed-pubescent, rarely with only hairs along midrib, abaxially; midrib slightly raised or plane adaxially, raised abaxially, secondary veins indistinctly and weakly brochidodromous, 9-14 per side, diverging at 45-70° from the midrib, these and higher-order veins slightly raised on both surfaces; petiole 2.5-6 mm long, shallowly canaliculate, pubescent to glabrate. Inflorescences axillary, 1-4-flowered, sparsely pubescent to glabrate; peduncle 1 per axil, 1-1.5 mm long, or absent; pedicels 2 per peduncle, 6.2-12 mm long, 0.6-0.9 mm thick; bracts 2-3, all attached at or proximal to the pedicel midpoint, persistent, 1.1-1.8 mm long, ovate to semicircular, apex rounded or emarginate; buds linear, apex acute, occasionally somewhat falcate, base bulbous. Sepals usually reflexed at anthesis, 1/6-1/3-connate, 2.1-2.8 mm long, 1.8-2.4 mm wide, chartaceous, triangular, apex acute, pubescent abaxially. Petals pale green to greenish yellow and bright pink, red, or purple at base in vivo; outer petals bent outward at the base but with the tips curved inward at anthesis, 16-62 mm long, 2.7-5 mm wide at base, 0.9-1.8 mm wide at midpoint, chartaceous to membranous, linear, lax and ribbonlike, apex obtuse, sparsely tomentose, becoming glabrous in basal concavity adaxially, densely tomentose abaxially; inner petals sharply bent outward at the base but with the tips curved inward at anthesis, 19-48 mm long, 3.1-5.2 mm wide at base, 0.4-0.8 mm wide at midpoint, chartaceous to membranous, linear-subulate, lax and ribbonlike, apex acute to obtuse, base with undifferentiated margin but slightly auriculate, somewhat thickened at the widest point adaxially, glabrous or with a few scattered hairs, except for the densely pubescent, almost setose, concavity, adaxially, pubescent, densely so at the base, abaxially. Stamens 80-100; fertile stamens 1.1-1.5 mm long, narrowly oblong, apex of connective red in vivo, 0.1-0.3 mm long, depressed globose to shieldlike, overhanging anther thecae, minutely papillate, anthers 9-11-locellate, filament 0.3-0.4 mm long; outer staminodes 1.3-1.6 mm long, clavate, apex truncate to emarginate; inner staminodes 0.8-1.1 mm long, oblong to broadly clavate, apex truncate; staminal cone 0.9-1.4 mm in diameter, 1.0-1.3 mm high, partially concealing the ovaries, rim laciniate. Carpels 5-7; ovaries 1.2-1.4 mm long, narrowly oblong, tomentose, stigmas white in vivo, loosely connivent but with apices separated, 3.8-7 mm long, linear, sometimes somewhat falcate, glabrous or with a tuft of hairs at the apex. Torus flat, 1.2-2.3 mm in diameter. Fruit of up to 6 glabrate monocarps borne on a pedicel 10-17 mm long, 2-3.2 mm thick, glabrate or with a few hairs; torus 6.5-11 mm in diameter, 4-8 mm high, depressed-globose. Monocarps with green exterior, sometimes purple to red tinged, and bright red endocarp in vivo, 3.0-4.4 cm long, 1.1-1.9 cm wide, 1.1-1.3 cm thick, irregularly oblong, often weakly torulose, apex obtuse to rounded, sometimes with a short beak up to 2 mm long, base sessile or contracted into a stipe 1-5 mm long, 2.5-8 mm thick, longitudinally marked with 3-4 strong ridges, wrinkled, verrucose; pericarp 0.1-0.3 mm thick. Seeds 7-12 per monocarp, in two rows, lying perpendicular to long axis, 10.3-12.4 mm long, 6.0-8.6 mm wide, 5.0-6.9 mm thick, ellipsoid to ellipsoid-pyriform, narrowed toward micropyle into a cylindrical neck 1-2 mm long and 3.1-3.8 mm wide, ovate in cross-section, truncate at micropylar end, rounded at chalazal end, brown, smooth, dull, raphe/antiraphe not or only faintly evident, micropylar scar 1.8-2.5 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, obovate to roughly circular; sarcotesta white to green in vivo; aril absent.

Phenology.

Specimens with flowers have been collected from all months of the year, but in slightly higher numbers from November to January. Specimens with fruits have been collected from all months of the year except February and March, with the greatest number from June.

Distribution

(Fig. 45 ). Xylopia longipetala is a species of inundated riparian forest, sometimes on sandy soils, distributed from Senegal to southern Chad and south to northwestern Angola and northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, at elevations of 30-700 m. It does not extend beyond the Congo River basin in the northeastern part of its distribution.

Local names.

Le Thomas (1969) lists only “ogana” as a common name for the species, a name applied to other species of Xylopia in Gabon as well; no other local names have been reported.

Representative specimens.

SENEGAL. Tambacounda, Miokolo-koba, 12 Jun 1958 (fr), Adam 14340 (MO, P); Tambacounda, Mieriko, 3 Dec 1959 (fl), Adam 17332 (MO); Oussouye, Kabrousse, 8 Oct 1961 (fr), Adam 18369 (MO); Ziguirihor, Elinkine, 8 Oct 1961 (fl), Adam 26904 MO); Niokolo-Koba, Apr 1951 (fr), Berhaut 1476 (P); Ouassadou, 1 Jan 1954 (fl), Berhaut 4295 (P), 4304 (P); d’Oussouye, 6 Aug 1983 (fr), Berhaut 6314 (BR, M, P); Cabrousse, 22 Feb 1964 (bud), Berhaut 7086 (M, P); forêt classe de Mahon, close to Kolda town, along the Casamance River, 50 m, 12°52'N, 14°50'W, 5 Jul 1990 (fr), Lawesson & Goudiaby 7079 (AAU, MO); prope Maloume Cap Rouge, May 1826 (fr), Leprieur s. n. (P); Tambacounda Region, Parc National du Niokolo Koba, Passage Koba, 13°03'N, 13°10'W, 30 m, 17 Dec 1993 (fl), Madsen et al. 2970 (AAU). GUINEA BISSAU. Bafatá, Chitole, Cusselinta, 10 Dec 1952 (fl), Explorações Botânicas 3171 (BR, K); Boé, entre Contabane e Guilege, 9 Jun 1953 (fr), Explorações Botânicas 3206 (WAG). GUINEA. Bassin de la Gambie, Youkounkoun, Jan 1952 (fl), Berhaut 2145 (P); Carcle de Bokè entre Songolon et Falaba, Region gresense, 18 Apr 1926 (fr), Chillou s. n. (P); env. de Conakry, Jun 1913 (fl), Morran s. n. [herb. Ch. d’Alleizette] (L). SIERRA LEONE. Kabala, M’Loma, Kruto, 6 Feb 1966 (fl), Adam 23587 (MO); Njala, 13 Feb 1928 (fl), Deighton 1081 (BM-2 sheets; K); Njala, 29 May 1935 (yg fr), Deighton 2997 (K); near Taiama, 26 Apr 1940 (fr), Deighton 3958 (K); Moa River at Koteimahun, (fl), Lane-Poole 347 (K); near Kambia, Scarcies, 5 Jan 1892 (fr), Scott-Elliot 4733 (BM); Moa bridge towards Zimmi, Nongowa Chiefdom, 10 Dec 1965 (fl), Samai 278 (K); near Port Lokko, Karena District, Apr 1892 (fr), Scott-Elliot 5730 (K); Laminaiya, 350', 28 Apr 1914 (yg fr), Thomas 144 (K). LIBERIA. Central Province, Gbarnga District, Yila, St. John River, 19 Aug 1947 (fr), Baldwin 9131 (K, MO, US); Western Province, Boporo District, Ba, on Mano River, near Boundary with Grand Cape Mount County, 18 Dec 1947 (fl), Baldwin 10714 (K, MO, US); Tapeta-Chien road, bank of Cestos river, Nimba side, 13 Jan 1967 (fl), Bos 2754 (K, WAG); Piahtah [ “Peáhtah,” 7°12'N, 09°48'W], 5 Oct 1926 (fr), Linder 910 (A, K, P), 17 Oct 1926 (fl, fr), Linder 1115 (A, K-2 sheets); road Bomi Hills to Lofa River, 11 Dec 1965 (fl), van Meer 250 (MO, WAG). BURKINA FASO. Dédougou: Bondoukuy, 11°59'42"N, 3°57'16"W, 268 m, 23 Nov 2009 (fl, fr), Sanou BUR-766 (K). IVORY COAST. Comonbêlo no. 2, Comivé Adikokoi, 10 Jan 1952 (fl), Aubréville 667 (A, B, K, P); Comonbelo, Touba, 23 Apr 1932 (fr), Aubréville 1245 (P); Kouofi, Lalérabah, May 1932 (st), Aubréville 1422 (P); La Lerabah, (fl), Aubréville 2201 (P); Ferké, (fl), Aubréville 2622 (P); R. Sassandra au N de Guessabo, 31 Jan 1969 (fl), Bamps 2006 (BR, P); Parc Komoé, Galerie Iringou, 8 Jun 1977 (st), César 553 (P); bassin de la moyen Sassandra Soubré (bord de la Sassandra), 18 Jun 1907 (fr), Chevalier 19113 (P); 30 km NE of Bouna, 9°21'N, 2°57'W, 3 Dec 1967 (fl), Geerling & Bokdam 1625 (K, MO, WAG); Bord du N’Zi, Pont Gt Reste, 22 Dec 1956 (fl), Institute D’Enseignement et de Recherches Tropicales ( Adiopodoumé) 4069 (P); Sassandra District, Louga, near Sassandra River, 25 Jan 1975 (fl), de Koning 5214 (WAG); Ferké village, Kafolo, à 120 km à l’est de Ferké ville, au safari lodge, Taillis a proximite du pont, 23 Nov 1977 (fl), Munzinger 30 (K, MO, P); 25 km NNE of Bouaké, direction Sibrikro, 20 Jun 1969 (fr), Versteegh & den Outer 359 (WAG); forest exploitation of Mr. Nesvadba on Sassandra River, W of Soubré near the village Niamagbi, 11 Jun 1963 (fr), de Wilde 164 (K, P); border of the N’zi (tributary of the Bandama river), near the bridge crossing N’zi between Ndouci and Singrobo, 6 Nov 1961 (fl), de Wilde 3236 (A, B, K, P); Sassandra River between Péhiri and Kopréagui, ca. 7 km WNW of Soubré, 25 Nov 1961 (fl), de Wilde 3306 (K). GHANA. Yeli Yeji (on R. Volta), 7 Jun 1937 (yg fr), Akpabla 656 (K); Brong-Ahafo Region, banks and islands of Black Volta River, E of Agbadzikrom, 300 m, 8°16'N, 2°14'W, 29 Sep 1996 (fr), Jongkind & Nieuwenhuis 3130 (WAG); without definite locality, Vigne 3883 (BM, US). TOGO. Entre Mission Tové et Doviè, Forêt d’Assomè, 29 Jun 1994 (fr), Aké Assi 19025 (MO); Nangbeto, en oval du borrage, ca. 110 m, 22 Nov 1986 (fl), Schäfer 8910 (B, K, MO). BENIN. Bords de la riviére Ouémé, entre Save et Ogougou, 5 May 1910 (fr), Chevalier 23586 (K, P); Adja Ouèrè [7°0'N, 2°37'E], 21 Dec 1901 (fl), Le Testu 257 (BM, P); forêt de Zarnon près Zaguanado, 16 Nov 1900 (fl), Poisson 36 or 3_122 (P). NIGERIA. Conf. of Quarre & Chadda et ad Nupe [Lokoja fide Keay 1954-1958], 1858 (fl), Barter 426 (K, P); Nupe [fide Keay 1954-1958, but is name of ethnic group], s. d. (fl, fr), Barter 1035 (GH-2 sheets, K, P); confluence of the Kwoma and Tchadda, 1858 (fl), Barter s. n. (K); Kaduna State, Damari River Basin, 15 km up river from jct. at Tubo River, vicinity of Mai-Gishiri, 1900-1950 ft, ca. 10°05'N, 7°30'E, 14 Nov 1981 (fl), Croat 53409 (K, MO); Abinsi & vicinity, 3 Dec 1912 (fr), Dalziel 713 (BM, K-2 sheets, MO, P); Kwara State, Borgu District, Babana, bank of river Ofa, 18 Dec 1972 (fl), Eimunjeze & Latilo FHI 65625 (K); banks of the Gurara River near Gornapara, 26 Jul 1906 (fr), Elliott 171 (K-2 sheets); Bendel State, Kwale District, Aboh Forest Reserve, 15 Aug 1978 (fr), Ekwuno et al. PFO.150 (FHI 87627) (MO); Lagos, Olokemeji, s. d. (fl), Foster 99 (s. n. at P) (K-2 sheets, P); Oyo, Iseyin, Upper Ogun Cattle Ranch, bank of River Ogun, 14 Jun 1977 (fr), Gbile 5018 (MO); NE State, Bauchi Province, Yankari Game Reserve, R. Gaji near Guruntun bridge, 28 Oct 1970 (fl), Geerling 3098 (WAG); Jebba, on the Niger, 35 m, 11 Dec 1927 (fl), Hagerup 725 (BM, K, P); Olokmeji Forest Reserve, 8 Nov 1969 (fl), Jackson-Etukendo UIH 281169 (K); bank of Ofum or Ofur, Olohem eji Reserve, 25 Apr 1945 (fl), Onochie & Jones FHI 14516 (K, P); Ilorin Province, Central Borgu Game Reserve, River Oli at hippopotamus pool, 12 Jan 1970 (st), Medler 201 (MO); Kaduna Div., roadside at Rigachikun, 7 Dec 1949 (fl), Meikle 757 (K, P); Abeokuta Province, Egba District, 28 May 1958 (fr), Onochie FHI 38347 (K); Niger State, Abuja District, Gurara water fall, 23 Nov 1987 (fl), Oyayomi et al. OFOOA:127 (FHI 79827) (MO-2 sheets); Ondo Province, Owo District, Idogun-25 mi N of Owo, bank of Osse River, 24 Oct 1961 (fl), Stanfield 45712 (K); Abeokuta Province, Egba District, ½ mile S of Olokemegi relay station, 30 Nov 1945 (fl), Tenejong FHI 14346 (K, P); Niger Expedition, Quorra, Vogel 103 (K), Vogel s. n. (K). CAMEROON. Rive Sangha, 5 Nov 1945 (fr), Aubréville 241 (P-2 sheets, WAG); on island in the Sangha River adjacent to the Ndakan gorilla study site, 02°01'N, 16°09'E, 13 Mar 1988 (fl), Fay 8307 (MO); Eastern Province, W bank of Sangha River, 350 m, 2°23'N, 16°10'E, 22 May 1988 (fr), Harris & Fay 757 (K); East, Dzanga-Sangha Reserve, 45 km S of Lidjombo, E bank of Sangha River from Ndakan, 02°21'N, 16°09'E, 350 m, 4 Nov 1988 (fl), Harris & Fay 1535 (K, MO, P, PRE); left bank Sanaga River, near ferry Nachtigal, about 20 km N of Obala, 400 m, 19 Nov 1965 (fl), Leeuwenberg 7033 (B, BR, K, MO, P, WAG); Djerem entre Niadam et Tagbou, 27 Jun 1954 (fr), Letouzey 2261 (K, P); rives du Djerem près Mbakaou, 8 Dec 1959 (fl), Letouzey 2459 (BR, K, P); Yangafok II-25 km ENE de Bafia, 26 Nov 1969 (fl), Letouzey 9614 (K, P); rive du Dja près Ndongo, a 40 km WNW de Moloundou, 18 Mar 1963 (fl), Letouzey 12138 (K, P); Bertoua Batouri, 1962 (fr), Tchinaye 103 (P); 6 km NW du confluent Boumba Dja Ngoba, 17 Apr 1971 (fl), Villiers 666 (P); left bank Sanaga River, near ferry Nachtigal, ca. 20 km N of Obala, 400 m, 11 Jun 1964 (fl, fr), de Wilde & de Wilde-Duyfjes 2676 (B, BR, K, MO, P, WAG). CHAD. Komba (c. Paoua), River Tchad Nana Barga, 2 Nov 1968 (fl), Gaston 2488 (P). CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. Gubungui (Ft. Crunfort), 23 Nov 1902 (fl), Chevalier 6363 (P); Haute-Kotto, Brio, 10 Feb 1921 (fl), Le Testu 2446 (BM, K, P, US); Waka, Tisserant 477 (BM, P), 934 (BM), Bambari, Tisserant 934 bis (BM, P); 15 km S Bozoum, 10 Jan 1938 (fl), Tisserant 3640 (BM); Ouaka, Tisserant s. n. (A, K). GABON. Ogooué-Ivindo: Petit Okano, viaduc du Transgabonais, ca. 0°04'S, 11°52'E, rive de l’Ogo[o]ué, 10 Oct 1983 (fl, fr), Floret et al. 1804 (P); Bord d’Ogooué, Booué, 26 Jul 1966 (fl), Hallé & Le Thomas 190 (MO, P); northern edge of Lopé Reserve, along riverbank near hotel, 00°15'S, 11°40'E, 200 m, 14 Sep 2000 (fl), McPherson 17911 (MO); Lope Hotel ground, 15 Mar 2004 (fl), Randrianasolo et al. 820 (MO, NY); border of Ogooué, ca. 20 km W of Lopé-reserve, 0°15'S, 11°28'E, 13 Jun 1966 (fl), Reitsma & Reitsma 2318 (MO, NY, RSA, WAG); Reserve de Lopé-Okanda, ca. 200 m N of Lope Hotel on Ogooué River, 00°05'38"S, 11°34'58"E, 120 m, 28 Oct 2000 (fr), Stone et al. 3122 (MO); Lope Reserve, Ogooué-Portes d’Okanda, 0°15'S, 11°40'E, ca. 200 m, 30 Jul 1993 (fl), White 0944 (MO).-Province unknown: Ogooué, Feb 1895 (fl), Thollon 144 (P); Ogooué, Feb 1887 (fl), Thollon 743 (P). REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. Rive de l’Oubangui ou Bangui a la Kemo, 10-20 Aug 1902 (fl), Chevalier 5268 (P); Région de Brazzaville, Cataractes de Pool, 5 Aug 1912 (fr), Chevalier 27746 (P); Confluent du Djoué près de Brazzaville, 29 May 1960 (fl, fr), Descoings 5719 (P); R. Kemó, 13 Feb 1892 (fl), Dybowski 669 (P); confluent de la Loua avec le Congo, à 15 kms de Brazzaville, 12 Aug 1963 (fl), de Nere 1710 (P); Moyen Congo, rives de la Sangha, Feb 1920 (fl), Pobéguin 48 (P). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. Bas-Uele: Prov. Orientale, Terr. Bambesa, 11 Jan 1960 (fl), Gerard 4346 (WAG); Ongo, rives de l’Uele, ca. 700 m, Nov 1945 (fl), Germain 4362 (K, P).-Haut-Uele: Prov. Orientale, Terr. Dungu, Parc national de La Garamba, Dec 1949 (fl), de Saeger 29 G (K); Kibali [ca. 3°50'N, 28°30'-29°00'E], 19 Apr 1870 (fr), Schweinfurth 2527 (K).-Kinshasa: Kinshasa, île des Mimosas, Kinshasa Territ., 3 Apr 1966 (fl), Breyne 86 (BR); Léopoldville, Stanley-Pool, Ile des Mimosas, Léopoldville Territ., 4 Apr 1964 (fl), Evrard 6620 (MO); Ngombe, bord du Fleuve, 16 Jul 1964 (fl, fr), Pauwels 4583 (WAG); île des Mimosas, Kinsuka, Terr. Ngaliema, 8 Dec 1976 (fr), Pauwels 5774 (MO, WAG).-Kongo Central: Zongo (chute), Kasangulu, 30 May 1966 (fl), Breyne 153 (WAG); Matadi, Chevalier 4086 (P); Matadi à Loumba, Chevalier 4094 (P); Matadi, 11-12 Sep 1912 (fr), Chevalier 28389 (P); route de Kimvusa à Inga (Terr. Seke-Banza), 24 Sep 1959 (fr), Compere 496 (BR, K).-Nord-Ubangi: Banzyville (Ubangi), Jan 1931 (fl), Lebrun 2110 (K, MO, P).-Sud-Ubangi: Prov. Équateur, Libenge, Zongo, petite île rocheuse quartzitique, au milieu des rapides de l’Ubangi, s. d. (fr), Evrard 2574 (P); entre Libenge et Gemena, Dec 1930 (fl), Lebrun 1792 (BR, K, MO, P, US).-Tshopo: Penghe, forêt aux bords de P’Aruwimi, 4 Feb 1914 (fl), Bequaert 2281 (K); Lileko et Basako, 470 m, 28 Sep 1938 (fl), Louis 11426 (K, P); Haut-Zaïre, S-Rég. Tshopo, Zone Banalia, village Panga, sur les rapides de l’Aruwimi, 28 Jan 1987 (fl), Szafranski 1218 (WAG).-Province unknown: Without definite locality, Smith s. n. (BM-3 sheets). ANGOLA. Peco, Sumba, proximum flumen Congo, 20 m, Apr 1922 (fl), Gossweiler 8658 (BM, K, US); Sumba, Peco, proximum flumen Zaire (Congo), 15 May 1925 (fl), Gossweiler 8937 (B, BM, US).

Xylopia longipetala is a distinctive and readily identified species. The leaves are rounded at the base and usually short-acuminate, the inflorescences have long pedicels bearing persistent but thin bracts, the sepals are usually reflexed at anthesis, the petals of both whorls are long and ribbonlike, with the inner petals mostly glabrous but densely hairy inside the concave base, the staminal cone is usually higher than wide, the ovaries exceed the apex of the staminal cone, the stigmas are long, falcate, and extend beyond the aperture created by the bases of the petals (Fig. 3E ), the monocarps are longitudinally ridged, and the seeds are covered by a pale gray, green, or blue sarcotesta. It occurs in riparian habitats, often on sandy soils. Associates include Guibortia demeusei , Irvingia smithii , Parinari congensis , Uapaca guineensis , and U. heudelotii .

Xylopia katangensis is the species most similar to X. longipetala , but it has shorter and more rigid petals that are not as wide at the base, thus not producing the bulbous base of the bud and flower seen in X. longipetala . The sepals in X. katangensis are only slightly spreading at anthesis, and the inflorescences have larger numbers of flowers. The two species overlap in distribution in Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but X. longipetala is much more common within this range. Together they form a distinctive subgroup within the X. acutiflora group.

Xylopia longipetala differs markedly from plants of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania that had previously been identified as this species under the name X. parviflora (A. Rich.) Benth. ( Verdcourt 1971b). The East African plants are now distinguished as X. gracilipes , X. holtzii , and X. nilotica . With their green fruit endocarp, orange sarcotesta of the seeds, more pubescent foliage, and small differences in floral structure (reviewed in Johnson et al. 2017), these three species belong to the X. odoratissima group within sect. Stenoxylopia .

Bentham (1862) published the combination Xylopia parviflora , based on Uvaria parviflora A. Rich., citing three specimens, Vogel s. n. and Barter s. n. from the Niger and G. Mann s. n. from the Bagroo River, under this name. In the same publication, he accepted X. acutiflora (Dunal) A. Rich., and cited two specimens, Barter s. n. at the confluence of the Quorra and Chadda and Chr. Smith s. n. from the Congo. He concluded, however, "I do not feel at all confident in the real distinction between the above two species and the Unona oxypetala , Dun. Anon. 114, t. 23, or Coelocline oxypetala , A. DC., l. c., which must also be a Xylopia , nor my having correctly identified our specimens; for the foliage and fruit seem to be the same in all, the differences consisting in the comparative length of the pedicels, and especially the length of the petals; but that is known to change so much in Anonaceae as the flowering advances, that, until we have good specimens in all the different stages of growth from the young bud to the fading flower, the question can scarcely be decided."

Bentham’s confusion is understandable, because the Vogel, Barter, and Smith specimens are now all identified as X. longipetala , but Baillon (1864) and Oliver (1868) continued to conflate the two species, with X. oxypetala still taxonomically associated with them in various ways. Vallot in 1882, however, pointed out that Bentham’s description and specimen citations were not in keeping with the concept of X. acutiflora in the sense of its type, and Engler and Diels (1901) accepted Vallot’s conclusion.

In 1926, Exell used the name Xylopia vallotii Chipp as an identification for plants collected by Gossweiler from northern Angola. Hutchinson and Dalziel (1927a) supplied Xylopia vallotii as a nomen novum for X. parviflora , explaining ( Hutchinson and Dalziel 1927b) that Xylopia parviflora (A. Rich.) Benth. was a later homonym for X. parviflora Spruce and explicitly proposed X. vallotii as a nomen novum. While they cited the authorship as Chipp ex Exell in the latter publication, in truth Exell did not explain how the name was to be applied and authorship should be attributed to Hutchinson and Dalziel. The use of the name Xylopia vallotii was followed in several floras, e.g. Andrews (1950), Boutique (1951b), and Paiva (1966), but in this same time period, floras began to return to the name X. parviflora for the species (Tisserant and Sillans 1953, Le Thomas 1969, Verdcourt 1971b). Maas et al. (1986) argued for the valid publication of Spruce’s Xylopia parviflora and pointed out that the earliest available name for African X. parviflora was X. longipetala .

Figures

Figure 3. Flowers of representative Xylopia species. A Flower from type collection of Xylopia globosa from Gabon B Xylopia tenuipetala from Mozambique C Xylopia quintasii from Gabon D Xylopia aethiopica from Gabon E Xylopia longipetala from Mali, representing a record for the country not otherwise documented F Xylopia piratae from Ivory Coast G Xylopia odoratissima from Zambia H Xylopia arenaria from Tanzania I Xylopia collina from Tanzania. A, D by Thomas L. P. Couvreur B by Frances Chase C by Ehoarn Bidault E by Philip Birnbaum F by Celine Pirat G by Warren McClelland H and I by D. M. Johnson.

Figure 27. Xylopia longipetala, X. holtzii, X. katangensis, and X. shirensis. A-F X. longipetala A Fruit B Seed, side view C Seed, view of micropylar end D Base of inner petal, adaxial view E Habit F Gynoecium surrounded by staminal cone with a few attached stamens G-K X. holtzii G Habit H, I Detached monocarps J Gynoecium surrounded by staminal cone with a few attached stamens K Base of inner petal, inner (adaxial) surface L X. katangensis, habit M-P X. shirensis M Fruit N Habit O Seed, view of micropylar end P Seed, side view. A-C from Jongkind & Nieuwenhuis 3031 (WAG) D, F from McPherson 17911 (MO) E from Halle & Le Thomas 190 (P), and following photograph of fresh flowers of same collection in Le Thomas (1969) G, J, K from Johnson et al. 1938 (OWU) H, I from Templer H 167 / 53 (K), L from Letouzey 4498 (MO) M from Richards 13266 (K) N from Richards 14438 (K) O, P from Bredo 6276 (BR).

Figure 28. Xylopia keniensis and X. tanganyikensis, with leaves of X. holtzii and X. longipetala for comparison. A Leaf of X. holtzii from Tanzania B Leaf of X. longipetala from Ghana C-E X. keniensis C Habit D Fruit E Inflorescence F-O X. tanganyikensis F Pedicel, sepals, and staminal cone G Base of inner petal, adaxial view H Base of outer petal, adaxial view I Flower, lateral view J Carpel K, L Habit M Stamen, abaxial view N Staminode, abaxial view O Fruit. A from Semsei 1718 (K) B from Jongkind & Nieuwenhuis 2130 (WAG) C, D from Luke & Robertson 2723 (MO) F-J, L-N from Nishida 57 (K) K, O from Abeid et al. 1028 (L). Reproduced with the permission of the Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.

Figure 45. Distributions of Xylopia longipetala and X. katangensis. Bolder lines represent country borders, fainter lines lakes and major rivers.