| Xylopia aethiopica | |
|---|---|
| Ethiopian-pepper | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Annonaceae |
| Genus: | Xylopia |
| Species: | X. aethiopica |
| Binomial name | |
| Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich.[1] |
|
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 dried fruits of X. aethiopica (Grains of Selim) are used as a spice and a traditional medicine.
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.