Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott & Endl.

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.

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.

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.

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