Aspects of Fruit Biology of Three Wild Edible Monkey Kola Species Fruits (Cola spp: Malvaceae)

Abstract

Aims: Monkey kola is a common name given to some edible wild relatives of West African kolanut, viz Cola lateritia K. Schum, C. lepidota K. Schum and C. pachycarpa K. Schum. These are underutilized indigenous tropical fruit species found growing in the humid West and Central African forests. The preliminary study was carried out to examine and characterize the three species of scantly known monkey kola for easy identification and documentation using their fruit morphological features. Place and Duration of Study: Sample collections from matured ripe fruits of the species were assembled from different locations of southeast Nigeria where these species flourish in the wild and protected stands of home gardens, during the 2011 cropping season. Methodology: Fruit characters examined for delineation of the species were: shape, fruit size, skin texture and colour; mesocarp colour, that is the edible waxy pulp around the seed, and average number of seeds per species’ fruit. Botanical data of the species were presented after qualitative analysis was made using descriptive statistics. Results: The species produce botanically identifiable follicle, characteristic of the genus Cola. Of the three, C. parchycarpa showed relatively marked palatable taste as per sweetness of edible fruit part, followed by C. lepidota and C. lateritia in the order. The various species fruits were characterised based on their respective fruit traits for further plant improvement, conservation and domestication purposes. Conclusion: The present report has attempted presenting basic botanical information about the three edible wild fruits of the Cola spp which were obviously needed for relevant documentation, development of the species descriptors and stimulation of further advance research interest. The results of this study would be useful for conservation and tree improvement programme of the species; however, additional confirmation research is required for other morphological features of the species of agronomic importance.