True kola

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• True kola
• abata cola
• cola
• colatree
• goora-nut
• kola

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

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

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Cola acuminata is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. Throughout its lifespan, the species maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains lush and functional year-round without undergoing a seasonal shedding of leaves. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and continuous leaf retention enables the plant to maintain steady metabolic processes and structural stability within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cola acuminata is characterized by its stature as a robust, woody tree, typically reaching a mean height of 17.5 m, with a maximum potential height of approximately 18.29 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte in any capacity, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant is a self-supporting organism, meaning it does not require external structures for climbing like a liana or vine, and it functions as an independent species rather than acting as a parasite. Its structural development is defined by its woody composition, which supports its significant vertical growth form.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18.28822238 m

Plant height mean:

17.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cola acuminata is characterized by a metabolic framework consistent with most tropical understory species, utilizing the C3 photosynthetic pathway to facilitate carbon fixation. This pathway involves the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO, which is efficient in the shaded, humid environments where the plant typically thrives. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, Cola acuminata is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cola acuminata is characterized by a highly flexible phenological cycle and specific seed morphology. The flowering period is notably variable, with the onset and conclusion of blooming occurring at different times throughout the year, potentially spanning from January through December depending on environmental conditions. Following the flowering stage, the fruiting process typically centers around June, with the fruiting period also showing significant variability in its temporal distribution. The resulting seeds are remarkably consistent in size and weight, maintaining a stable seed mass with a mean, maximum, and minimum value of 20 g.

Flowering time :

variable

Fruiting time :

Jun

Seed mass mean:

20 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cola acuminata has 32 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannin, CALCIUM, Cyanidin, D-Catechin, ETHYLAMINE.

Tannin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Cyanidin

1. Dr. Duke

D-Catechin

1. Dr. Duke

ETHYLAMINE

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoid

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

GUM

1. Dr. Duke

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

ISOBUTYLAMINE

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Activities

Cola acuminata has 349 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include (+)-Inotropic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, Abortifacient, Absorbent.

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adenosine-Antagonist

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Cola acuminata has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include erectile dysfunction, malaria, tuberculosis.

Erectile dysfunction

1. African health sciences

Malaria

1. Scientific reports

Tuberculosis

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Preparations

Cola acuminata has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include kola nut.

Kola nut

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association