Ghanja Kola, Bitter Cola
Cola nitida

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows up to 8-12 m high. The trunk does not have branches for a few metres. There are buttresses to 1 m high. The bark is grey with cracks along it. The small branches are smooth. The leaves are not confined to the tips of branches. The leaves are simple and 9-32 cm long by 3.5-13 cm wide. They are leathery and dark green. The leaf stalk is 1-10 cm long. It is swollen at the top. The flowers are in short, irregular, branches clusters. The flowers are joined for 1/3 of their length forming a cup. The female flowers are 5 cm across and the male flowers 2 cm. They are white or cream with red marks inside. The fruit are made up of 5 cells which curve back. They are green and shiny. The fruit are 14 cm long by 7.5 cm wide. There are about 10 seeds. These are covered with a white skin. The seeds have purple seed leaves. When the seed coat is removed the seed splits into two.

Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland rain-forest. It needs a temperature above 20-24°C for planting and tolerate a temperature down to 13-15°C. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Pacific, Sahel, Samoa, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Togo, Vietnam, West Africa

How it is used for food

The nut is used as a masticatory. The nuts are also dried and sold. They are chewed as a caffeine rich stimulant. The seeds are dried, ground and made into drinks.

It is a cultivated food plant. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by cuttings. It can be grown by suckers.

Its other names

Local names

Ajauru, Bakuru, Buur, Cola, Coleira, Colo-fuque, Curo-djo-o, Curo, Essore, Evbe, Goeh, Goro, Kola, Leuh, Mancuur, N'kola, Obi-akechi, Obi-gbanja, Oji igbo, Opo, Pohon kola nitida, Pohon kola pahit, Uncurame

Synonyms

Sterculia nitida Vent.; Cola acuminata (P. Beauv.) Sch. & Endl.; Cola vera;