Ancistrocladus pachyrrhachis (Ancistrocladaceae), described in 1950, is resurrected and compared with A. barteri, the species with which it was synonymised in 2005. The fruits of Ancistrocladus barteri and A. pachyrrhachis are described and illustrated here for the first time, and a full description of the species is provided, as is a key to the three West African species. Ancistrocladus pachyrrhachis is assessed as Critically Endangered.