Mandingo kola
Cola cordifolia

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 15-25 m high. The trunk is short. It has buttresses. The branches occur low down and the crown is dense and spreading. The end branches have a rusty coating. The leaves are oval and 15-40 cm long by 10-35 cm wide. They are rounded at the tip and heart shaped at the base. The flowers are produces with the leaves. There are 2-4 flowering shoots on each stem and these are 3-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The fruit are follicles 20 cm long, 17 cm high and 6 cm wide. The seeds are oblong and 3.5 cm long by 2 cm wide.

Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the savannah in West Africa. It grows in woodland. It grows between 950-1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo R., East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The seeds are chewed as a stimulant. The pulp of the fruit is eaten.

Edible parts

Pulp, fruit, seeds aril, seeds, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Abobu, A-mbamb, Bubab, Bubem, Bubom, Bugitin, Budjanhi, Ga-mbamb, Mandjanja, Manjandja, M'bue, Taba, Tabayer, Tabo, Tamba noko, Utuludjene

Synonyms

Sterculia cordifolia Cav.;