Xylopia discreta explained

Xylopia discreta is a species of plant in the Annonaceae family. It is native to Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.^[1] Carl Linnaeus the Younger, the botanist who first formally described the species using the basionym Unona discreta, named it after its purple, aromatic fruit which set it apart (Latin: discretus in Latin) from other members of the family.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Description

It is a tree reaching 22 meters in height. Its young branches are silky, narrow, and pliable. The lance-shaped, hairless, papery leaves are in two rows, alternate. Its petioles very short. The flower pedicels are clustered in umbels. The fruit are purple and aromatic.^{[3] [5]}

Reproductive biology

The pollen of Xylopia discreta is shed as permanent tetrads.^[6]

Distribution and habitat

It has been observed growing in forests.

Uses

Bioactive compounds extracted from its leaves and seeds have been reported to have antileishmanial activity in laboratory tests.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Xylopia discreta (L.f.) Sprague & Hutch. . . n.d. . Plants of the World Online . The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . June 19, 2022.
2. Book: Stearn, William . 2004 . Botanical Latin . Timber Press David & Charles . Portland, Ore. Newton Abbot . 9780881926279 .
3. Book: Linné, Carolo . 1782 . Supplementum Plantarum . Supplement of Plants . Brunswick . Orphanotropheum . 270.
4. Sprague . T.A. . Hutchinson . J. . 1916 . XXVII. African Anonaceae . Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information . 6 . 145–161.
5. López . R. . Cuca . L.E. . Delgado . G. . 2009 . Antileishmanial and Immunomodulatory Activity of Xylopia discreta . Parasite Immunology . 31 . 10 . 623–630 . 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2009.01134.x . 19751474. 1101423 .
6. Book: Walker, J.W. . Ferguson . I.K. . Muller . J. . 1976 . Evolutionary Significance of the Exine in the Pollen of Primitive Angiosperms . The Evolutionary Significance of the Exine . London . Academic Press . 978-0122536502.