Ghanja Kola (Cola nitida)
Description
Cola nitida is a species of plant belonging to the family Malvaceae. It is a tree native to the rainforests of tropical West Africa. Common names include kola nut, cola, kola and bitter kola.[1] The seeds contain caffeine 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. Cola nitida is an evergreen tree growing to a height of 12 to 20 metres (39 to 66 ft). The trunk is up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11.1 in) 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 33 cm (13 in). The flowers have parts in fives. They grow in panicles from the leaf axils and have no petals. Male flowers have a deeply lobed, cup-shaped calyx about 2 cm (0.8 in) in diameter with two whorls of stamens. Female flowers are larger at 5 cm (2.0 in) diameter, with five carpels. The calyx is yellow with red nectar guides, and are followed by fleshy fruits up to 13 cm (5.1 in) long and 7 cm (2.8 in) wide. When ripe, the pods split open to reveal the seeds which may be mottled white, reddish-grey or brown. The seeds are bitter when fresh but become more aromatic as they age.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Malvales
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Family: Malvaceae
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Genus: Cola
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