Xylopia quintasii (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Medicinal
Timber
Fibre

Xylopia quintasii Engl. & Diels

Protologue: Engl., Monogr. afrik. Pflanzen-Fam. 6: 62 (1901).

Family: Annonaceae

Origin and geographic distribution

Xylopia quintasii occurs from Senegal eastward to the Central African Republic, and southward to DR Congo and Cabinda (Angola).

Uses

The wood of Xylopia quintasii, most commonly known as ‘aghako’ in Ghana and as ‘mvomba’ in Cameroon, is commonly used in house building, often for posts, poles and planks, and for pestles, bowls, tool handles, bows, spear shafts, masts, canoe paddles and stakes for yam. It is suitable for heavy construction, heavy flooring, joinery, mine props, ship building, vehicle bodies, railway sleepers, ladders, sporting goods, toys, novelties, pattern making and turnery. The wood is also used as firewood and for charcoal production.

Several parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. The scented bark is used in treating colds, bronchitis and pneumonia, and as anodyne. Macerated inner bark is applied to reduce swellings, and a preparation of scrapings of the inner bark soaked in water is used as mouthwash to treat pyorrhoea. In Nigeria powdered bark is applied to ulcers and in Gabon a lotion prepared from the bark is used to treat headache. Powdered roots are used to cure constipation and to treat sores and inflamed gums; they are also used in cancer treatment. Fruits are eaten to ease childbirth and to cure bronchitis and gonorrhoea. A decoction of leaves, stem bark and roots is used as general tonic and for treating rheumatism and stomach complaints. The fibrous inner bark has been used for cordage.

Production and international trade

The wood of Xylopia quintasii has no commercial value on the international market; it is only used for local domestic products.

Properties

The heartwood is yellowish to brown and indistinctly demarcated from the slightly paler sapwood. The grain is straight, texture fine. The wood has an unpleasant smell when freshly cut. It is heavy, with a density of 840–960 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content, and hard. It air dries fairly well, but it is recommended to quarter-saw logs before drying. The rates of shrinkage are rather high, from green to oven dry 6.0% radial and 10.4% tangential. Once dry, the wood is moderately stable in service.

At 12% moisture content, the modulus of rupture is 181–198 N/mm², modulus of elasticity 14,800–22,830 N/mm², compression parallel to grain 73–74 N/mm², cleavage 22.5 N/mm, Janka side hardness 13,670 N and Chalais-Meudon side hardness 5.8.

The wood is tough but fairly easy to saw and work with both hand and machine tools. It planes readily and takes a good finish. The wood glues well and has good turning properties. The heartwood is moderately durable, being fairly resistant to termite attacks, but susceptible to marine borers. The sapwood is susceptible to Lyctus attack.

The presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, tannins and saponosides has been demonstrated in various plant parts. Antispasmodic properties resembling those of papaverine have been reported for the alkaloids from the roots. Administration of aqueous root extracts to rats showed a significant increase of creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^– levels and a reduction of bicarbonate. The diterpene 7β-acetoxytrachyloban-18-oic acid has been isolated from the stem bark.

Description

Small to medium-sized tree up to 30 m tall; bole usually straight and slender, up to 60(–90) cm in diameter, sometimes fluted at base or with narrow buttresses; bark surface flakey, dark grey to dark brown, inner bark strongly fibrous, peelable in long strips, pale brown to orange-brown, darkening upon exposure, strongly scented; crown often small, conical with horizontal branches; twigs often with small diagonal ridges, with lenticels, glabrous. Leaves alternate, simple and entire; stipules absent; petiole up to 0.5 cm long; blade obovate to elliptical, 7–14 cm × 3–6 cm, cuneate at base, short-acuminate to rounded at apex, thin-leathery, glabrous, pinnately veined with 6–8 pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescence a small fascicle among the leaves, up to 7-flowered, short-hairy. Flowers bisexual, regular, 3-merous, greenish white or yellowish white, fragrant; pedicel 3–7 mm long; sepals slightly fused at base, ovate-triangular, c. 2 mm long; petals free, in 2 whorls, outer ones linear, 1–2 cm long, inner ones shorter, short-hairy; stamens numerous; carpels 3–5, ovaries c. 1.5 mm long, styles up to 0.5 mm long. Fruit consisting of up to 5 cylindrical follicles 3–5 cm long, with stipe up to 1 cm long and constrictions between the seeds, glabrous, red-green, dehiscing with a single slit, 2–4-seeded. Seeds c. 1.5 cm × 0.5 cm, nearly completely enveloped by an orange aril fringed at apex. Seedling with epigeal germination; hypocotyl 5–6 cm long, channelled, epicotyl 3–4 mm long, hairy; cotyledons thin, remaining within the seed coat; first leaves opposite or alternate.

Other botanical information

Xylopia is a large pantropical genus of about 150 species, with approximately 30 species in mainland tropical Africa and 25 in Madagascar. It is related to Artabotrys and badly in need of revision. The wood of several Xylopia spp. is used in tropical Africa.

Xylopia acutiflora

Xylopia acutiflora (Dunal) A.Rich. is a small tree up to 15(–30) m tall, widespread from Guinea east to southern Sudan, and south to Angola and Zambia. Its heavy and hard wood is used in Cameroon and Gabon in house construction and for canoe paddles, bows and spear shafts. Bark decoctions are administered to treat pneumonia and as anodyne. The bark has been used for hut walls. The fruits are added to food as spice.

Xylopia cupularis

Xylopia cupularis Mildbr. (synonym: Xylopia chrysophylla Louis ex Boutique) is a medium-sized to fairly large tree up to 35 m tall with bole up to 60 cm in diameter, occurring from Cameroon east to DR Congo and south to Cabinda (Angola). Its yellowish brown and heavy wood, with a density of 750–935 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content, is suitable for similar purposes as that of Xylopia quintasii; it is mainly used for construction, railway sleepers, vehicle bodies and implements. Leaf macerations are taken against diarrhoea.

Xylopia hypolampra

Xylopia hypolampra Mildbr. (synonym: Xylopia brieyi De Wild.) is a medium-sized to fairly large tree up to 40 m tall with bole up to 100 cm in diameter, occurring from Cameroon and the Central African Republic to south-western DR Congo and Cabinda (Angola). Its yellowish brown, medium-weight to heavy wood, with a density of 670–920 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content, is suitable for similar purposes as that of Xylopia quintasii; it is mainly used for construction, railway sleepers and implements, and as firewood. Bark macerations and decoctions are used in traditional medicine to treat asthma, cough and stomach-ache, and as diuretic and anthelmintic. The bark has been used for hut walls. The fruits and seeds are added to food as spice.

Xylopia mwasumbii

Xylopia mwasumbii D.M.Johnson is a small tree up to 9 m tall, only known from evergreen forest near the coast of central-east Tanzania. The wood is used for poles in house building and for tool handles.

Xylopia rubescens

Xylopia rubescens Oliv. is a small to medium-sized tree up to 20(–30) m tall with stilt-rooted bole up to 40 cm in diameter, widely distributed in swamp forest and riverine forest from Liberia east to Uganda and Tanzania, and south to Zambia and Mozambique. The yellowish white to pale brown wood is suitable for construction, joinery, ship building, vehicle bodies, furniture, toys, novelties, boxes, crates, veneer, plywood and pulpwood; it is used as firewood. The wood density is lower than that of Xylopia quintasii and the texture more coarse. The bark has been used for hut walls.

Xylopia staudtii

Xylopia staudtii Engl. & Diels is a medium-sized tree up to 30(–45) m tall with often stilt-rooted bole branchless for up to 20 m and up to 100(–150) cm in diameter, widespread from Sierra Leone east to Uganda, and south to DR Congo and Cabinda (Angola). The yellowish white to pale brown wood is suitable for construction, flooring, joinery, interior trim, ship building, vehicle bodies, furniture, sporting goods, toys, novelties, boxes, crates, carvings, vats, matches, veneer, plywood, hardboard, particle board and pulpwood. It is fairly lightweight with a density of about 500 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content, and rather soft. The bark has been used for hut walls and cordage. Powdered bark or bark macerations are used in traditional medicine to treat colds and headache, fruit macerations are taken to ease childbirth and pulverized fruits are applied to treat rheumatism. The fruits and seeds are added to food as spice.

Xylopia villosa

Xylopia villosa Chipp is a small to medium-sized tree up to 25 m tall with bole up to 40 cm in diameter, occurring from Liberia to Nigeria. Its tough and fairly durable wood is used for posts in house building and for tool handles. Powdered bark or bark macerations are used in traditional medicine to treat colds and headache, and pounded seeds are applied to ulcers.

Xylopia wilwerthii

Xylopia wilwerthii De Wild. & T.Durand is a small tree up to 10 m tall with bole up to 15(–30) cm in diameter, restricted to DR Congo. Its yellow-brown and very heavy wood, with a density of 955–1085 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content, is used for construction, implements, utensils, sculptures and turnery.

The best known species of the genus is Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A.Rich. Its wood is commonly used for similar purposes as that of Xylopia quintasii, although the wood density is much lower. However, Xylopia aethiopica is more important for its fruits and seeds used as spice, and as medicinal plant. The wood of Xylopia parviflora (A.Rich.) Benth. is also used, but this species is also more important as spice and medicinal plant.

Xylopia timber is used in Madagascar, but it is not clear to which species the usage is applicable.

Anatomy

Wood-anatomical description (IAWA hardwood codes):

• Growth rings: 1: growth ring boundaries distinct; 2: growth ring boundaries indistinct or absent.
• Vessels: 5: wood diffuse-porous; 13: simple perforation plates; 22: intervessel pits alternate; 23: shape of alternate pits polygonal; 25: intervessel pits small (4–7 μm); 26: intervessel pits medium (7–10 μm); 30: vessel-ray pits with distinct borders; similar to intervessel pits in size and shape throughout the ray cell; 42: mean tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100–200 μm; 47: 5–20 vessels per square millimetre; 58: gums and other deposits in heartwood vessels.
• Tracheids and fibres: 61: fibres with simple to minutely bordered pits; 66: non-septate fibres present; 69: fibres thin- to thick-walled; (70: fibres very thick-walled).
• Axial parenchyma: 86: axial parenchyma in narrow bands or lines up to three cells wide; 87: axial parenchyma reticulate; 92: four (3–4) cells per parenchyma strand; (93: eight (5–8) cells per parenchyma strand).
• Rays: 97: ray width 1–3 cells; (98: larger rays commonly 4- to 10-seriate); 104: all ray cells procumbent; (106: body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells); 115: 4–12 rays per mm.
• Mineral inclusions: (136: prismatic crystals present); (138: prismatic crystals in procumbent ray cells).

(C. Essien, A.A. Oteng-Amoako & P. Baas)

Growth and development

The growth of seedlings is slow. The seedlings are shade bearers. In West Africa flowering of Xylopia quintasii occurs from December to May, whereas in Gabon flowers can be found in February–April. Fruits mature about 6 months later. In Gabon fruits are produced in the long dry season, and the seeds with their orange aril are an important food for birds and monkeys, which serve as seed dispersers.

Ecology

Xylopia quintasii usually occurs in humid evergreen lowland forest, often on slopes, but also along streams. It is commonly found in secondary forest.

Propagation and planting

There are about 1500 seeds per kg. Seeds start germinating about 1 month after sowing, and all viable seeds have germinated after 2 months. The germination rate is about 70%.

Management

In forest in Sierra Leone an average density of 2 Xylopia quintasii trees with a bole diameter of more than 15 cm has been recorded per ha.

Xylopia quintasii plays a role in shifting cultivation practices in Senegal. It is an important constituent of forest developing after dry farming of rice in temporarily cleared forest plots, and is one of the species preventing erosion.

Genetic resources

Xylopia quintasii has a fairly wide distribution range and there are no indications of genetic erosion. However, in some parts of Sierra Leone over-exploitation for firewood and charcoal has been reported, and locally in Cameroon Xylopia quintasii has become rare because of over-exploitation for house construction.

Some other Xylopia spp. are under severe threat, particularly in coastal forests in East Africa. An example is Xylopia mwasumbii, which is classified as endangered in the IUCN Red List.

Prospects

Xylopia quintasii will probably remain a timber tree of local importance only. Its prospects for the commercial timber trade are poor because of the small size of the bole and its apparently slow growth. Its medicinal value demands further pharmacological research for potential drug development.

Some other Xylopia spp., e.g. Xylopia aethiopica, Xylopia hypolampra and Xylopia staudtii, reach larger dimensions and may have better prospects as timber trees of future commercial importance. However, research is needed on growth rates, regeneration and proper management to assess their value for sustainable timber production on a larger scale. At any rate, the mean annual diameter growth of Xylopia aethiopica trees is fair, about 1 cm.

Major references

• Bolza, E. & Keating, W.G., 1972. African timbers: the properties, uses and characteristics of 700 species. Division of Building Research, CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia. 710 pp.

• Boutique, R., 1951. Annonaceae. In: Robyns, W., Staner, P., Demaret, F., Germain, R., Gilbert, G., Hauman, L., Homès, M., Jurion, F., Lebrun, J., Vanden Abeele, M. & Boutique, R. (Editors). Flore du Congo belge et du Ruanda-Urundi. Spermatophytes. Volume 2. Institut National pour l’Étude Agronomique du Congo belge, Brussels, Belgium. pp. 256–389.

• Burkill, H.M., 1985. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 1, Families A–D. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 960 pp.

• Cooper, G.P. & Record, S.J., 1931. The evergreen forests of Liberia. School of Forestry, Yale University, Bulletin 31, New Haven, United States. 153 pp.

• de Koning, J., 1983. La forêt de Banco. Part 2: La Flore. Mededelingen Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 83–1. Wageningen, Netherlands. 921 pp.

• Fouarge, J. & Gérard, G., 1964. Bois du Mayumbe. Institut National pour l’Etude Agronomique du Congo (INEAC), Brussels, Belgium. 579 pp.

• Oteng-Amoako, A.A. (Editor), 2006. 100 tropical African timber trees from Ghana: tree description and wood identification with notes on distribution, ecology, silviculture, ethnobotany and wood uses. 304 pp.

• Savill, P.S. & Fox, J.E.D., 1967. Trees of Sierra Leone. Forest Department, Freetown, Sierra Leone. 316 pp.

• Vivien, J. & Faure, J.J., 1985. Arbres des forêts denses d’Afrique Centrale. Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique, Paris, France. 565 pp.

• White, L. & Abernethy, K., 1997. A guide to the vegetation of the Lopé Reserve, Gabon. 2nd edition. Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, United States. 224 pp.

Other references

• Aké Assi, L., Abeye, J., Guinko, S., Riguet, R. & Bangavou, X., 1985. Médecine traditionnelle et pharmacopée - Contribution aux études ethnobotaniques et floristiques en République Centrafricaine. Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique, Paris, France. 140 pp.

• Aubréville, A., 1959. La flore forestière de la Côte d’Ivoire. Deuxième édition révisée. Tome premier. Publication No 15. Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Nogent-sur-Marne, France. 369 pp.

• Berhaut, J., 1971. Flore illustrée du Sénégal. Dicotylédones. Volume 1. Acanthacées à Avicenniacées. Gouvernement du Sénégal, Ministère du Développement Rural et de l’Hydraulique, Direction des Eaux et Forêts, Dakar, Senegal. 626 pp.

• Bobboi, A., Gidado, A., Edeoji, I. & Milala, M.A., 2004. The effects of the root of Xylopia quintasii on blood, liver and kidney function indices in rats. Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine 8: 52–54.

• Camara, M.I.K., 2001. Etude botanique et chimique de Xylopia quintasii. Mémoire de fin d’études en pharmacie (diplôme d’Etat), Université Gamal Abdel Nasser, Conakry, Guinée. 44 pp.

• de la Mensbruge, G., 1966. La germination et les plantules des essences arborées de la forêt dense humide de la Côte d’Ivoire. Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Nogent-sur-Marne, France. 389 pp.

• de Saint-Aubin, G., 1963. La forêt du Gabon. Publication No 21 du Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Nogent-sur-Marne, France. 208 pp.

• Hawthorne, W.D., 1995. Ecological profiles of Ghanaian forest trees. Tropical Forestry Papers 29. Oxford Forestry Institute, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. 345 pp.

• Hawthorne, W. & Jongkind, C., 2006. Woody plants of western African forests: a guide to the forest trees, shrubs and lianes from Senegal to Ghana. Kew Publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom. 1023 pp.

• Irvine, F.R., 1961. Woody plants of Ghana, with special reference to their uses. Oxford University Press, London, United Kingdom. 868 pp.

• Johnson, D.M., 1999. New species of Xylopia and Uvaria (Annonaceae) from Tanzania. Novon 9(1): 55–60.

• Konda ku Mbuta, Kabakura Mwima, Mbembe Bitengeli, Itufa Y'Okolo, Mahuku Kavuna, Mafuta Mandanga, Mpoyi Kalambayi, Ndemankeni Izamajole, Kadima Kazembe, Kelela Booto, Ngiuvu Vasaki, Bongombola Mwabonsika & Dumu Lody, 2010. Plantes médicinales de traditions. Province de l'Equateur - R.D. Congo. Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (I.R.S.S.), Kinshasa, D.R.Congo. 418 pp.

• le Thomas, A., 1969. Annonacées. Flore du Gabon. Volume 16. Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France. 372 pp.

• Lovett, J.C., Ruffo, C.K., Gereau, R.E. & Taplin, J.R.D., 2007. Field guide to the moist forest trees of Tanzania. [Internet] Centre for Ecology Law and Policy, Environment Department, University of York, York, United Kingdom. http://celp.org.uk/ projects/ tzforeco/. September 2011.

• Mitani, M., 1999. Does fruiting phenology vary with fruit syndrome? An investigation on animal dispersed tree species in an evergreen forest in south-western Cameroon. Ecological Research 14: 371–383.

• Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany. 589 pp.

• Quevauviller, A. & Foussard-Blanpin, O., 1976. Sur les propriétés, notamment antispasmodiques, des alcaloïdes totaux de racine de Xylopia quintasii Engl. et Diels, Annonacées. Comptes Rendus des Scéances de la Société de Biologie et de ses Filiales 170(6): 1187–1188.

• Raponda-Walker, A. & Sillans, R., 1961. Les plantes utiles du Gabon. Paul Lechevalier, Paris, France. 614 pp.

• Takahashi, A., 1978. Compilation of data on the mechanical properties of foreign woods (part 3) Africa. Shimane University, Matsue, Japan. 248 pp.

• Vanden Berghen, C., 1994. La culture itinérante sur des brûlis, en Basse Casamance occidentale (Sénégal meridional). L’évolution de la végétation. Lejeunia 144: 1–26.

Sources of illustration

• le Thomas, A., 1969. Annonacées. Flore du Gabon. Volume 16. Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France. 372 pp.

• White, L. & Abernethy, K., 1997. A guide to the vegetation of the Lopé Reserve, Gabon. 2nd edition. Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, United States. 224 pp.

Author(s)

• A.A. Oteng-Amoako, Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), University P.O. Box 63, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

• E.A. Obeng, Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), University P.O. Box 63, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

Correct citation of this article

Oteng-Amoako, A.A. & Obeng, E.A., 2012. Xylopia quintasii Engl. & Diels. In: Lemmens, R.H.M.J., Louppe, D. & Oteng-Amoako, A.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed 3 April 2025.

• See the Prota4U database.