Back to Biodiversity Explorer main pageGo to Iziko Museums of Cape Town home pageAbout Biodiversity Explorer - history, goals, etc.Send us your questions about southern African biodiversityPeople who have contributed content and images.Search Biodiversity Explorer

Family: Annonaceae

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) >  magnoliids >  Order: Magnoliales

A tropical family with 129 genera and 2220 species. In southern Africa there are 8 genera with a total of 14 species. The genus Annona contains a number of species that are cultivated for their fruit, including Custard apple and Soursop.

Genera indigenous to southern Africa

Information from Jordaan (2000).

Annona

About 110 species, found mainly in tropical America but with 4 species in tropical Africa of which 2 occur in southern Africa.

Artabotrys

About 100 species, native to the tropics and subtropics of the Old World. Two species occur in southern Africa.

Friesodielsia

About 50-60 species, native to tropical Africa and Asia with one species, Friesodielsia obovata, occurring in southern Africa.

Hexalobus

The 5 species are native to tropical Africa with one, Hexalobus monopetalus, extending into southern Africa.

Monanthotaxis

About 60 species, native to tropical Africa and Madagascar, with one species, Monanthotaxis caffra occurring in southern Africa.

Monodora

About 15 species, native to tropical Africa, with one species, Monodora junodii occurring in southern Africa.

Uvaria

About 110 species, found mainly in tropical Asia, Australia and Africa, with 3 species native to southern Africa.

Xylopia

About 100-160 species, pantropical in distribution. Three species are native to southern Africa.

Other genera, culitvated in southern Africa

Information from Glen (2002).

Cananga

Cananga odorata (Ylang-ylang) is indigenous from India through to the Philippines and is cultivated in southern Africa.

Polyalthia

Polyalthia suberosa  is indigenous to India through to China and is cultivated in southern Africa.

Publications

  • Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated plants of southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.

  • Jordaan, M. 2000. Annonaceae. In: Seed Plants of Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 59-62. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

 


Contact us if you can contribute information or images to improve this page.

Biodiversity Explorer home   Iziko home   Search