Fragrant xylopia, Monkey pepper, Guyana unona
Xylopia aromatica

Family: Annonaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows about 7 m high. The branches are long and hang down. The leaves are narrow and pointed. They are shiny above and bluish underneath. The side veins are very faint. The leaves are regularly spaced and in a flat plane. The flowers have 2 rings of petals of different sizes. The flowers are white. The fruit have several lobes arranged like a cluster. The skin is light green. The flesh is red. The seeds are black.

It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in the scrub lands of Brazil. It grows in disturbed secondary forests and along roadside. In Colombia it grows between 40-1,220 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Antilles, Bolivia (country/location of origin) Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South America, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The seeds have a taste and smell like black pepper. They can be used as a substitute for black pepper in cooking.

Edible parts

Seeds - spice

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Embida, Ibira, Malagueto hembra, Pimenta-de-macaco, Pimenteira do sertao, Pimentiera da terre, Pindaiba, Pindaiva

Synonyms

Coelocline lucida (DC.) A.DC.; Habzelia aromatica (Lam.) A.DC.; Habzelia cubensis A.DC. ex Steud.; Unona aromatica (Lam.) Dunal; Unona concolor Willd.; Unona cubensis Steud.; Unona lucida DC.; Unona xylopioides Dunal; Uvaria aromatica Lam.; Uvaria febrifuga Humb. & Bonpl. ex Dunal; Xylopia cubensis A.Rich.; Xylopia dunaliana Planch. & Linden ex Triana & Planch.; Xylopia grandiflora A.St.-Hil.; Xylopia longifolia A.DC.; Xylopia lucida (DC.) Baill.; Xylopia xylopioides (Dunal) Standl.; Xylopicrum aromaticum (Lam.) Kuntze; Xylopicrum grandiflorum (A.St.-Hil.) Kuntze; Xylopicrum longifolium (A.DC.) Kuntze;