Seeds - Specimen details

Seeds - Specimen details

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Catalogue Number: 64906

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Plant Name 32.00 STERCULIACEAE Cola acuminata Entry Book Number 167C.1884
Artefact Name Seeds Vernacular Name
Iso Country Gambia TDWG Region Gambia
Parts Held Seeds Geography Description Gambia
Uses SeedsUse: FOOD User: Man TDWG use FOOD
Storage Spirit Related Items
Donor Edinburgh Forestry Exhib Donor No
Donor Date Donor Notes
Collector Collector No
Collection Notes Collection Date
Exhibition Expedition
Number Components Publication
Notes: Label source: Tropical Africa, the seeds ....... are known as Cola or Go..ra nuts. The trade in these seeds on the Gambia is thus described in a report by Acting Administrator Berkeley, copied in the Kew Report for 1880; 'the trade in cola nuts is anattr, active feature in the commerce of the Gambia. The cola nut is the produce of the Sierra Leone district, and the trade in it, both at Sierra Leone and Gambia, is almost entirely in the hands of women, to a large number of whom it affords the means of livel, ihood, and in many instances the acquisition of considerable wealth. The nut is largely consumed by the natives of the Gambia. It is of a bitter taste, and produces no exhilarating effect but is said to possess the power of satisfying for a considerable t, ime the cravings of hunger. For this purpose however, it is much less used than it is a luxury The trade in the article is rapidly increasing'. In 1860 the imports were about 15000 lbs while in 1879 they had risen to about 743000 lbs. The trade in these s, eeds has also spread to Central Africa, and even to the African shores of the Med. Besides the use of these seeds for staying for a prolonged periods the cravings of hunger and enabling those who use them to endure increased fatigue without loss of power, they are very important for the preparation of a refreshing and invigorating beverage. The cola nut has recently attracted a good deal of attention. One of the newest revelations in connection with it is the property it is said to have of curing drunken ., .... a single nut is ground up and made into a paste with water, and swallowed, and 1/2 an hour afterwards no sign of intoxication remains.
Determinations:32.00 STERCULIACEAE Cola acuminata (Pal. Beauv.) Schott. & Endl.
    32.00 STERCULIACEAE Cola vera K.Schum.

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