Cola gigantea – Tech4Forest

Tree Species Information

About

Species Name

Cola gigantea

Family

Sterculiacaeae

Local Name

Giant cola

Description

It is a large evergreen tree, that can grow up to 10-35m tall, it has a spreading crown.

BARK: The bark is brown or greyish in color, it has a small or short buttress.

LEAVES: Leaves are wide, ovate-shaped and greenish in color.

FLOWERS: The inflorescence bears small white fragrant flowers which turn pink upon aging.

FRUITS: Fruit is an ovoid follicle which splits open when ripen to release seeds. The leaf extracts has anti-inflammatory antimicrobial properties.

Uses

1. It is utilized for construction, furniture, fuelwood, it also has characteristics suitable for paper production.

2. It is used in traditional medicine to treat sores, inflammatory conditions, skin infection. 3. Parts of the plant are often used in its places of origin in treating whooping cough, asthma, malaria and fever, as well as various sicknesses.

4.The bark is used medicinally to treat swellings, gout, leprosy or as a pain-killer.

Locations (Institutions)

Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria (FUTA), Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Nigeria (FECA)