Cola acuminata (P.Beauv.) Schott & Endl.

Abata cola (en)

Species

Angiosperms > Malvales > Malvaceae > Cola

Characteristics

A medium sized tree. It grows 13-20 m tall. In cultivation it is usually 6-9 m high. It commonly has low branches. The bark is dark green or grey. The small branches are smooth. The leaves are near the tip of the branches. They are 7-22 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. The tip is usually twisted downwards. The leaves are leathery and dark green. The flowers are in irregular branched clusters. They are white or cream with red inside. The fruit has a rough, mottled skin. They are made up of 5 cells. The fruit can be 20 cm long and 6 cm wide. They occur singly. It has thin white flesh. The seeds are large, flat and bright red. There are up to 14 seeds. When the seed coat is removed the seeds split into four pieces.
More
Forest tree, to 60 ft. high, very similar to C. nitida.
Life form perennial
Growth form tree
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality -
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) -
Mature height (meter) 18.29 - 20.0
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months -
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway c3

Environment

It is a tropical plant. It suits the hot wet tropical lowlands. It will grow in sun or part shade. It is damaged by frost. It is best in fertile soil that are well-drained. It is native to West Africa. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. It cannot tolerate high pH.
More
An understorey tree in humid lowland forests.
Light 7-9
Soil humidity 4-6
Soil texture 1-6
Soil acidity -
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 10-12

Usage

The seeds are chewed for a stimulating effect. They are also used in foods. They are used to flavour drinks. An extract prepared from the dried kernels are used to flavour drinks. ice cream, candy, baked goods and liqueurs.
Uses environmental use food gene source material medicinal social use wood
Edible fruits leaves seeds
Therapeutic use Astringents (bark), Colic (bark), Nervous system diseases (bark), General tonic for rejuvenation (bark), Astringents (fruit), Nervous system diseases (fruit), General tonic for rejuvenation (fruit), Parasympatholytics (leaf), Abdominal pain (seed), Antiemetics (seed), Aphrodisiacs (seed), Astringents (seed), Colic (seed), Diarrhea (seed), Dysentery (seed), Heartburn (seed), General tonic for rejuvenation (seed), Antiperiodic (seed), Aphrodisiac (unspecified), Cardiotonic (unspecified), Digestive (unspecified), Diuretic (unspecified), Hunger (unspecified), Nerves (unspecified), Stimulant (unspecified), Cancer (unspecified), CNS stimulant (unspecified), Tonic (unspecified), Tumor (unspecified)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Plants are usually grown from seeds. Seed only remain viable for about 2 weeks. Cuttings can be used. Plants can also be grown using layering. Plants can be budded. For seeds, the pods are put in a heap and kept damp for 16 days and then the seed coat removed and the seed planted 10 cm deep.
Mode cuttings seedlings
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) 23 - 28
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Cola acuminata unspecified picture

Distribution

Cola acuminata world distribution map, present in Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Guam, Honduras, Haiti, Indonesia, India, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, Togo, and Trinidad and Tobago

Conservation status

Cola acuminata threat status: Least Concern

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:822645-1
WFO ID wfo-0000614368
COL ID WWRF
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID 629391
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR) Link

Synonyms

Lunanea bichy Sterculia acuminata Bichea solitaria Bichea sulcata Braxipis grandiflora Clompanus longifolia Cola acuminata Cola macrocarpa Cola pseudoacuminata Southwellia longifolia Sterculia macrocarpa Bichea acuminata Cola ledermannii Edwardia acuminata Edwardia lurida Helicteres paniculata Icosinia paniculata Sterculia grandiflora Siphoniopsis monoica Cola grandiflora Colaria acuminata