Our future fruiters
Cola_rostrata
Cola rostrata K. Schum. [STERCULIACEAE family]
Cola rostrata is a perennial tree of the lowland rainforest of tropical Africa; in southern Cameroon, Gabon and southeastern Nigeria. It is popularly known as monkey cola or beaked cola.
Description
Tree up to 25 m tall and 50 cm in diameter; rounded crown, dense foliage; short bole, base with small buttresses in old trees; gray bark cracked longitudinally.
Leaves simple, alternate; elliptical, rarely oblong or obovate, up to 33 x 12 cm, acuminate tops.
Male and mixed inflorescences.
uses
The nuts of Cola rostrata are very popular.
The fruits are the most used parts of the tree.
Animals such as monkeys and antelopes are also fond of nuts
Its fruits are edible with a sweet taste, eaten raw or boiled and it is
not known to be used in folk medicine.
The edible fruit pulp of C. rostrata is a natural source of antioxidants that could be further exploited for its potential biological activity.