Xylopia frutescens Aubl.

 

(Annonaceae)

Espinoza, R., Masís, A., Chavarría, F., Guadamuz, A. and Pérez, D. 1998. Xylopia frutescens (Annonaceae) Species Page, April 15 , 1998. Species Home Pages, Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. http://www.acguanacaste.ac.cr

I. Identification:

Tree up to 25m tall. DBH of 19 cm.

Flower:

Fruit:

Fruits are dehiscent and aproximatly 1.3 cm in length and 0.8 cm in diameter. The mesocarp (the fleshy part) is red-orange with a soft and spongy texture. It has a strong spice flavor.

 

  Open immature fruits

Seeds  

 

Arrangment of the infruitesence on the branch

 

Arrangment of the infruitesence

Leaves:

Simple alternate, lanceolate, margins entire. Dark green on the upper side and light green on the underside of the leaf.

The leaves are aproximatly 6.5-8 cm long. The petiole is grooved and 0.4-0.6 cm long.

 

Under surface of the leaf

 

Detail of the upper surface of the leaf

 

Detail of the under surface of the leaf

 

Position of the leaves

 

Bark and wood:

The external bark is dark brown and smooth, the interior is reddish.

 

   

 External and interior bark

Whole plant architecture:

Similar species:

Verification:

II.Geographic distribution:

International:

 

In Costa Rica:

 

In the Area de Conservación Guanacaste:

In areas of transition, Forest edges and river zones.

 Map of macro-habitats of the ACG

III. Natural History:

IV. How to find:

In El Hacha, Almendros and Guitarra

Acknowledgments.

This project was carried out by the Area de Conservación Guanacaste/CR, with help from INBio/CR, ICBG from the Foggarty center, NIH/USA and NSF/USA.

Literature cited: