Revision of the African genus Annickia (Annonaceae)

A complete revision, including a key to the species, drawings and distribution maps, of the tropical African Annonaceae genus Annickia (= Enantia Oliv., non Falc.) is presented. The exact phylogenetic position of this genus within the family has long been, and in fact still is, unclear. The status of four species, A. ambigua, A. atrocyanescens, A. kwiluensis and A. olivacea, has been elucidated. All four refer to the same species: A. ambigua. One new combination, A. affinis (Exell) Versteegh & Sosef, was needed. The well-known A. chlorantha, the bark of which is reputed for its anti-malarial activity, appears to be a rare species confined to southern Nigeria and Cameroon. It has been frequently confused with the more widespread A. affinis. The genus Annickia now comprises eight species, several of which show interesting distribution patterns.