Giant cola
Cola gigantea
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
A large tree. It grows 50 m high. The trunk has narrow buttresses. The crown is dense and spreading. The bark is grey with cracks along it. The leaves are simple and 17-45 cm long by 14-32 cm wide. They are oval and can have 3 lobes. They are deeply heart shaped at the base. The flowering shoots are in the axils of leaves. They are covered with rusty brown hairs. The fruit is a berry made up of 4-5 boat shaped sections. The fruit is about 15 cm long. There are about 8 seeds each 3 cm long by 1.5 cm wide.
Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. In grows in moist semi-deciduous forest in West Africa. It also grow in savannah. It can grow in dry sandy soils and also fairly heavy soils.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, East Africa, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, SE Asia, Singapore, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, West Africa
How it is used for food
The seeds are used as a condiment for thickening soup.
It is an important and commonly used food in West Africa. It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Fruit, seed - spice, nut
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds. These germinate in 16-40 days. Plants can be budded. Plants can be grown from stem cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Dodowa, Ebenebe, Grand ouara, Ndaba, Nguu