Xylopia aethiopica

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iXylopia aethiopica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Annonaceae
Genus: Xylopia
Species: X. aethiopica
Binomial name
Xylopia aethiopica

Xylopia aethiopica is an evergreen, aromatic tree, growing up to 20m high. It is a native to the lowland rainforest and moist fringe forests in the savanna zones of Africa.

The fruit of X. aethiopica (Grains of Selim) is used as a soup condiment and a cough remedy.

[edit] Etymology

Xylopia is a compression from Greek ξυλον πικρον (xylon pikron) meaning "bitter wood", aethiopica refers to the origin of the tree, though currently most of it grows in Ghana.

[edit] References

  • CRC Handbook of African Medicinal Plants, by Maurice M. Iwu, CRC-Press. ISBN 0-8493-4266-X
  • Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages [1] (accessed October 26 2005)

[edit] See also


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