Cola acuminata
Cola acuminata, commonly known as the Kola nut, is a significant tropical evergreen tree native to West Africa. Renowned for its caffeine-rich seeds, it plays a vital cultural and medicinal role. Used traditionally to boost energy and stimulate digestion, this plant remains a cornerstone of regional social and economic life.
- Scientific name: Cola acuminata
- Family: Malvaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Malvales and placed in the family Malvaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cola.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cola | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Cola acuminata, is known by various regional and linguistic names depending on the area of its cultivation. In Arabic, it is referred to as جوز الزنج, while in Azerbaijani, it is commonly called Sivri kola. It is identified in Czech as kolovník zašpičatělý, and in Danish, it goes by the name Abaata-Kola. Additionally, in the koi language, the plant is simply known as Колα.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | جوز الزنج | Wikidata |
| az | Sivri kola | Wikidata |
| cs | kolovník zašpičatělý | Wikidata |
| da | Abata-Kola | Wikidata |
| koi | Кола | Wikidata |
| kv | Кола | Wikidata |
| lbe | Кола | Wikidata |
| mrj | Кола | Wikidata |
| pl | Kola zaostrzona | Wikidata |
| ru | Кола заострённая | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, known as Cola acuminata, is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is well-documented within the borders of Benin. Furthermore, the species can be found growing throughout the Ivory Coast. It also inhabits the tropical landscapes of Liberia and Sierra Leone. Finally, Nigeria serves as another significant part of its natural geographical range.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Togo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cabinda | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Cameroon | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Congo | WCVP |
Chemicals
Cola acuminata has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Dimethylamine, ethylamine, flavonoid, isobutylamine, isopentylamine.
- Total chemicals
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Dimethylamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethylamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isobutylamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isopentylamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methylamine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| piperidine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pyrrolidine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cola acuminata has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include erectile dysfunction, malaria, tuberculosis.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| erectile dysfunction | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tuberculosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |