A revision of Xylopia L. (Annonaceae): the species of Madagascar and the Mascarene islands Author Johnson, David M. Author Murray, Nancy A. text Adansonia 2020 2020-02-05 42 1 1 88 journal article 21758 10.5252/adansonia2020v42a1 28f94b79-38d7-4c25-ac76-cf64809114fc 1639-4798 3877215 II. Xylopia section Verdcourtia D.M.Johnson & N.A.Murray PhytoKeys 97: 88, 89 (2018). — Type : Xylopia mwasumbii D.M.Johnson. DESCRIPTION Nodes with branches from 2-3 axillary buds; outer and inner petals lanceolate, similar in length; inner petals flat at the base and lacking differentiated fleshy basal margins; anther connective apex rudimentary, not overhanging the anther thecae, staminal cone rudimentary, surrounding only the bases of the ovaries and rim laciniate, or cone absent; carpels 1-5, the stigmas sometimes thickened and falciform; seed (where known) bearing a cupular aril surrounding the base; seed coat smooth, sarcotesta absent. Three species in East Africa and two species on Madagascar , all at low elevations. NOTES Xylopia section Verdcourtia is characterized by a rudimentary anther connective apex, which does not overhang the anther thecae, a rudimentary or absent staminal cone, and a smooth fleshy white cupular aril ( Johnson & Murray 2018 ). Two Madagascar Xylopia species, X. sahafariensis and X. sericolampra , have this unusual androecium and are classified in the section even though their seeds are imperfectly known. An accession of X. sahafariensis was nested in a subclade with section members X. mwasumbii and X. lukei from East Africa in the molecular phylogeny of Stull et al. (2017) .