Cola urceolata, also known as bemange, bokosa, eboli, egwasa, ikaie, lekukumu, lungandu, lusakani, matadohohu, nesunguna, ngbilimo, ngono, and zimonziele, is a flowering shrub in the family Malvaceae.[1] The specific epithet (urceolata) comes from Latin urceus (= pitcher, jug) and means "urn-shaped".

Cola urceolata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Cola
Species:
C. urceolata
Binomial name
Cola urceolata
K.Schum. (1900)
Synonyms

Distribution

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Cola urceolata is native to Central Africa, from southeastern Nigeria south to Kongo Central province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and northeast to southeastern Central African Republic.[2]

Description

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Cola urceolata is an evergreen shrub that grows to 3 meters (9.8 feet) in height.[1] The dark green leaves are elliptical in shape and the flowers are yellow to white and three-petaled.[2] The fruit somewhat resembles a pepper in shape, and is red when ripe and green when unripe. It is curved and tapers to a point towards its non-stem end. They grow in clusters, normally of three. The fruit, seeds, flowers, and leaves are edible.[1]

Uses

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The fruit and other edible parts of the plant are eaten raw or cooked in its native range.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Cola urceolata". Let's Plant. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Cola urceolata K.Schum". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 1 March 2021.