''Cola nitida'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriat ...

of plant belonging to the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 known species. Well-known members of economic importance include okra, cotton, cacao and durian. There are also some genera containing familia ...

. It is a tree native to the rainforests of tropical West Africa. Common names include kola nut, cola, kola and bitter kola. The seeds contain

caffeine Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine chemical classification, class. It is mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally as a Nootropic, cognitive enhancer, increasing alertness and attentional perfor ...

and are chewed as a stimulant and used in the manufacture of soft drinks. The nuts and other parts of the tree have many uses of a ceremonial nature and in traditional medicine. The timber has multiple uses.

Description

''Cola nitida'' is an evergreen tree growing to a height of . The trunk is up to in diameter and older trees develop buttresses. The bark is thick and fibrous, with deep longitudinal fissures. It is grey or brownish-grey, with pinkish-red wood becoming visible when the bark is damaged. The leaves have stalks and are alternate, oblong, glabrous, leathery and tough, with untoothed wavy margins and up to . The flowers have parts in fives. They grow in

panicle A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...

s from the leaf axils and have no petals. Male flowers have a deeply lobed, cup-shaped calyx about in diameter with two whorls of stamens. Female flowers are larger at diameter, with five carpels. The calyx is yellow with red

nectar guide Nectar guides are markings or patterns seen in flowers of some angiosperm species, that guide pollinators to their rewards. Rewards commonly take the form of nectar, pollen, or both, but various plants produce oil, resins, scents, or waxes. Such ...

s. The carpels develop into a fleshy star-shaped

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consisting of 5 pods ( follicles) of up to long and wide. When ripe, the pods split open to reveal the seeds which consist of a white seed coat covering a pair of fleshy folded

cotyledon A cotyledon (; ; ; , gen. (), ) is a significant part of the embryo within the seed of a plant, and is defined as "the embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants, one or more of which are the first to appear from a germinating seed." The numb ...

s which are mottled white, reddish-grey or brown. The cotyledons (the kola nut of commerce) are bitter when fresh but become more aromatic as they age.

Distribution

''Cola nitida'' is native to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria. It is a lowland tree but can be found up to altitudes of about in areas with deep, rich soils and evenly distributed rainfall. It has been cultivated in other parts of tropical Africa as well as India, Jamaica, Brazil, and Hawaii. It can grow where there is around of rain but does better where the annual rainfall exceeds , spread across eight months or more. Its temperature range is and it grows on both light and heavy soils as long as they are deep.

Uses

The nuts contain

theobromine Theobromine, also known as xantheose, is the principal alkaloid of '' Theobroma cacao'' (cacao plant). Theobromine is slightly water- soluble (330 mg/L) with a bitter taste. In industry, theobromine is used as an additive and precursor to ...

and

tannin Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids. The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'' ...

. Along with the closely related '' Cola acuminata'', which is also native to West Africa, the trees are cultivated commercially in tropical regions of the world and the nuts used in the manufacture of "cola" drinks. Other ingredients of these drinks include spice oils, other aromatic compounds (sometimes including the leaves of the tree),

caramel Caramel ( or ) is an orange-brown confectionery product made by heating a range of sugars. It can be used as a flavoring in puddings and desserts, as a filling in bonbons, or as a topping for ice cream and custard. The process of carameli ...

for colouring, sweeteners, phosphoric or

citric acid Citric acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula HOC(CO2H)(CH2CO2H)2. It is a colorless weak organic acid. It occurs naturally in citrus fruits. In biochemistry, it is an intermediate in the citric acid cycle, which occurs in ...

, and

carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide ( chemical formula ) is a chemical compound made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in the gas state at room temperature. In the air, carbon dioxide is t ...

to provide effervescence. The nut has traditionally been used as a stimulant when chewed. It is reported to lessen fatigue, prevent hunger pangs, increase mental activity and reduce the need for sleep. Parts of the plant are also used in rituals such as weddings, child naming ceremonies, induction of village chiefs, funerals and sacrificial ceremonies. The leaves, twigs, bark, flowers and nuts are also used in

traditional medicine Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) comprises medical aspects of traditional knowledge that developed over generations within the folk beliefs of various societies, including indigenous peoples, before the ...

. ''Cola nitida'' is closely related to ''

Theobroma cacao ''Theobroma cacao'', also called the cacao tree and the cocoa tree, is a small ( tall) evergreen tree in the family Malvaceae. Its seeds, cocoa beans, are used to make chocolate liquor, cocoa solids, cocoa butter and chocolate. The largest pr ...

'', the cocoa tree, and the nuts have been used as a main ingredient for

chocolate Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cacao seed kernels that is available as a liquid, solid, or paste, either on its own or as a flavoring agent in other foods. Cacao has been consumed in some form since at least the Olmec ci ...

with a high melting point. The nut is used in dyeing and water purification. The timber has a use in building work, boat construction, furniture and joinery, musical instruments, utensils and carving. It is also useful as firewood. The pods have been used to make fertiliser and soap, and they can be used as a substitute for up to 60% of the

maize Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American English, North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples of Mexico, indigenous ...

in poultry feed.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1185081 nitida Flora of West Tropical Africa