Kola Nut

Kingdom	Plantae
Unranked	Angiosperms
Unranked	Eudicots
Order	Malvales
Family	Malvaceae
Genus	Kola
Species	K.vera
Binomial name	Kola vera

Other Common Names:

The other common names for the kola tree are Kola Seeds, Gurru Nuts, Bissy Nuts and Cola Seeds.

History

Kola nuts, the seed of Cola nitida and Cola acuminata, are native to West Africa. In the 1800s, a pharmacist in Georgia took extracts of kola, sugar and coca and mixed them with carbonated water. His accountant tasted it and called it "Coca Cola." Today, Coca-Cola still uses kola in its original recipe. The original Coca-Cola contained cola leaf extracts (a source of cocaine prohibited in soft drinks in the U.S. after 1904.) Kola nuts (or cola nuts) are the seed pods of various evergreen trees that are native to Africa; Sterculiaceae cola vera is the scientific name of the most common species. Kola nuts form an intergrated part of the social life; the nuts are valued for its stimulating, aphrodisiac and healing qualities.

Description

Kola nut is a caffeine-containing nut of two evergreen trees of the cocoa family. Kola nut is a relative of the Sterculiacea plant family. The Cola acuminata is an evergreen tree of about 20 meters in height, and has long and ovoid leaves pointed at both the ends that have a leathery texture.

The trees have yellow flowers with purple spots, and star-shaped fruit. Inside the fruit, about a dozen round or square seeds can be found in a white seed shell. The nut's aroma is sweet and rose-like. The first taste is bitter, but sweetens upon chewing. The nut can be boiled to extract the cola. Cola nut is a breath sweetener and contains three times the caffeine of coffee. This tree reaches 25 meters in height and is propagated through seeds. C. nitida and C. acuminata can easily be interchanged with other Cola species.

Range

Kola nut is native to W. Africa; this herb is cultivated extensively in the tropics particularly Nigeria, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and S. America. Though it is a native of tropical West Africa, but has been spread so much by man that today it is cultivated from Senegal to Nigeria.

Habitat

Originally a tree of tropical rainforest, it needs a hot humid climate but can withstand a dry season on sites with a high ground water level. It may be cultivated in drier areas where ground water is available. C. nitida is a shade bearer but develops a better spreading crown which yields more fruits in open places. Though it is a lowland forest tree it has been found at altitudes over 300 m on deep rich soils under heavy and evenly distributed rainfall.

Cultivation

Ripe fruits harvested before the follicles split open, the seeds or nuts are extracted from the follicles and the white aril removed after 5 days of fermentation. Yields of 300 nuts per tree are considered good. Nuts for planting are the mature ones that have undergone after-ripening. C. nitida can also be propagated by cuttings or aerial layering. The seedlings are sometimes raised in pots or in polythene bags before planting out. Field spacing of 10 x 10 m is common. Early weeding is essential and interplanting with a shade tree recommended. Initial growth is slow, reaching only 3 m in 4 years. Slashing the trunk of cola trees before the season of main flowering is believed to induce heavy bearing. Trees start flowering at 4-5 years and very few fruits can be obtained, but full production occurs in 20 years. Cola as an intercrop flowers later than the normal 4-5 years. Seed generally have recalcitrant storage behaviour. Seed can be retained for 1 year or more without loss in viability with seeds wrapped in banana leaves in a basket, or with polythene bags, at room temperature. Nuts may be thus stored for several months without spoiling but will require regular changing of the leaves and checking for weevil damage.

Flowering Season

The yellow flowers of the evergreen tree are in bloom from May to July.

Pests and Diseases

The nuts are subject to attack by the Kola weevil Balanogastris cola. The larvae of the moth Characoma strictigrapta that also attacks cacao bore into the nuts. Traders sometimes apply an extract of the bark Rauvolfia vomitoria or the pulverised fruits of Xylopia and Capsicum to counteract the attack on nursery plants. The cacao pests Sahlbergella spp have been found also on C. nitida as an alternative host plant. While seeds are liable to worm attack, the wood is subject to borer attack.

Parts Used

The seeds are the most commonly used parts of the kola nut tree for its commercial and medicinal purposes.

Medicinal Applications

• It acts as a stimulant to central nervous system, anti-depressive, astringent, diuretic.

• The nuts are chewed as a stimulant and used the roots to clean teeth and sweeten breath.

• Kola has a marked stimulating effect on the human consciousness.

• It is used in the treatment of whooping cough and asthma.

• Kola nuts were also used as a substitute for alcohol in the treatment of alcoholism.

• Africans used the pods to ease labour pains; seeds to relieve diarrhea, childhood asthma, nausea, and hangover.

• Kola nut are also thought to reduce fatigue and hunger, aid digestion, and work as an aphrodisiac.

• It will aid in states of depression and may, in some people, give rise to euphoric states.

• It relieves a few specific cases of depression associated with weakness and debility.

• The herb was believed to boost physical performance by stimulating the heart and also for treating debility, weakness, apathy and seasickness.

• It cures some varieties of migraine also.

Commercial Applications

• Kola nuts are best known outside of Africa as an ingredient in cola beverages.

• Kola nuts and kola extract are used in the manufacture of soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, candy and nutritional supplements.

• Kola nut may also improve athletic performance due to its ability to enhance oxygen delivery and enhance focus.

• Kola nuts, in combination with coca-leaf are incorporated in brands of cocoa, tonic wines and other beverages.