Cola lateritia var. maclaudii
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
A medium to large tree. The trunk is 20 m tall and 1 m across. The leaves are alternate and simple. They are 10-30 cm long by 8-28 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 4-25 cm long. The fruit are 5-8 cm long. There are 4-6 seeds in each fruit follicle. There are 2 varieties of Cola lateritia.
Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest. It suits humid locations. It grows up to 1,000 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa, Zambia
How it is used for food
The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The fruit pulp is edible. The nut is chewed.
Edible parts
Fruit pulp, leaves, seeds, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. Seeds germinate in 6-21 days.
Its other names
Local names
Alonzork, Bundone, Bunei, Bwalo, Ebouboure, Efok, Ekok, Fofoko, Ka-futu, Kechi shuan, Kumo, Mendeneu, Petit ouara, Tore