Species of plant
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".
Distribution
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
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
The fruit and other edible parts of the plant are eaten raw or cooked in its native range.[1]
See also
References
