Ophiobotrys

{{Short description|Genus of trees}}

{{Speciesbox

|image =

|image_caption =

|status = LC

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author= IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group & Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) |date=2023 |title= Ophiobotrys zenkeri |volume=2023|page= e.T204715371A204794888 |doi= 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T204715371A204794888.en |access-date=April 14, 2022}}

|display_parents = 2

|genus = Ophiobotrys

|parent_authority = Gilg

|species = zenkeri

|authority = Gilg

|synonyms ={{species list |Osmelia zenkeri|(Gilg) Hallier f.}}

|synonyms_ref =

}}

Ophiobotrys zenkeri is a species of flowering plant in the family Salicaceae.{{cite web |url= https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:365789-1 |title= Ophiobotrys zenkeri Gilg |author= |date=n.d. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=April 14, 2024}}{{cite web |url= https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/49W68 |title= Ophiobotrys zenkeri Gilg |author= |date=n.d. |website=Catalogue of Life |publisher=Species 2000 |access-date=April 14, 2024}} It is a tree native to tropical Africa from Ivory Coast to Gabon and is the only member of the genus Ophiobotrys.{{cite book |last1=Burkill |first1=H. M. |title=The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, vol. 2 |date=1985 |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens |location=Kew |isbn=9780947643010 |pages=960}} Formerly classified in the Flacourtiaceae, phylogenetic analyses based on DNA data indicate that this species, along with its close relatives in the Asian genera Osmelia and Pseudosmelia, are better placed in a broadly circumscribed Salicaceae.{{cite journal |doi=10.2307/4110825 |first=Mark W. |last=Chase |author2=Sue Zmarzty |author3=M. Dolores Lledó |author4=Kenneth J. Wurdack |author5=Susan M. Swensen |author6= Michael F. Fay |year=2002 |title=When in doubt, put it in Flacourtiaceae: a molecular phylogenetic analysis based on plastid rbcL DNA sequences |jstor=4110825 |journal=Kew Bulletin |volume=57 |issue=1 |pages=141–181|bibcode=2002KewBu..57..141C }} Ophiobotrys differs from its close relatives in having 5 sepals, 5(-6) stamens, one divided style, and terminal inflorescences.

The wood has several uses, and the species is known by several common names, including uolobo, urogbo, abuana, akwana, and bofan.