Cola lateritia
StarCola lateritia
Synonyms: Bichea lateritia
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In West and Central African folk medicine and food use, "Cola lateritia" is well documented (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Protabase). The caffeine-rich seed is chewed in the same way as true kola to give energy and increase endurance, while the fruit pulp is eaten and the young leaves and leaf-buds are cooked as a vegetable, valued during feasts and initiation ceremonies. Medicinally, sun-dried plant parts are smoked in a pipe to treat tuberculosis; a preparation of the inner bark is drunk as a cough remedy and a bark decoction is taken for intercostal pain; a bark decoction is also used as a vaginal douche against sterility, and the inner bark, pounded with clay and combined with leaf-decoction baths, is applied to skin eruptions (PROTA / Protabase).
Botanical Description
"Cola lateritia" is a tropical tree in the family Malvaceae (formerly Sterculiaceae), native to the rainforests of West and Central Africa. It is a medium to large evergreen tree with simple, often large leathery leaves and the small, somewhat star-shaped flowers typical of the genus "Cola", lacking true petals and instead bearing a coloured calyx. The flowers give rise to clusters of woody follicular fruits that split to release several large seeds (the "cola nuts") embedded in pulp. As in the commercial kolas, the seeds are rich in caffeine. Two varieties are recognised across its range. The tree grows in lowland and submontane moist forest, where its fruit pulp, young leaves and caffeine-bearing seeds are gathered for local use. It is related to, but distinct from, the principal commercial kola species "Cola nitida" and "Cola acuminata".
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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