Cola Notes

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Synonymy of Cola

Introduction

Cola is a genus of malvaceous trees, placed in subfamily Sterculioideae/tribe Sterculieae. It is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa (and does not reach Madagascar). The number of species is unclear - the African Flowering Plant Database [1] recognises 103 species, with another 6 names of uncertain status, and also recognises two species in the segregate genus Chlamydocola, which is not generally recognised as distinct. However some species are poorly known, e.g. Cola buesgenii is only known from the type collection. Kubitzki and Bayer [2] suggest that the true number of species is much lower.

The genus is divided into a number of subgenera. Published names include Cola (or Eucola or Autocola), Schizocola, Chlamydocola, Haplocola, Cheirocola, Protocola and Anomocola. Subgenus Cola has been divided into sections Cola (or Eucola) and Macrocola.

Two species of section Cola, Cola nitida and Cola acuminata are extensively cultivated for their caffeine- and theobromine-containing fruits (kola nuts). In West Africa the nuts are chewed. At one time they were used as the flavouring agent for cola drinks, but this is now unusual. The fruits of the other species of section Cola, Cola ballayi, Cola verticillata and Cola sphaerocarpa, are said to also be edible.

Cola is most diverse in the Guinea-Congolian rainforests of West and Central Africa, but also occurs in the tropical decidous forests which flank these, and in a secondary centre of diversity along the East African coast.

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Synonymy of Cola