The kola nut is the seed of certain species of plant of the genus Cola, placed formerly in the cocoa family Sterculiaceae and now usually subsumed in the mallow family Malvaceae. These cola species are trees native to the tropical rainforests of Africa. Their caffeine-containing seeds are about 5 centimetres (2.0 in) across and are used as flavoring ingredients in beverages applied to various carbonated soft drinks, from which the name cola originates.
Sterculiaceae was a family of flowering plant based on the genus Sterculia. Genera formerly included in Sterculiaceae are now placed in the family Malvaceae, in the subfamilies: Byttnerioideae, Dombeyoideae, Helicteroideae and Sterculioideae.
Sterculia is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae: subfamily Sterculioideae. Members of the genus are colloquially known as tropical chestnuts. Sterculia may be monoecious or dioecious, and its flowers unisexual or bisexual.
Hildegardia is a genus of trees in the family Malvaceae. In older systems of classification, it was placed in Sterculiaceae, but all members of that family are now in an expanded Malvaceae. The genus is named for Saint Hildegard of Bingen due to her contributions to herbal medicine. There are 13 species with a pantropical distribution.
Placodiscus is a genus of plant in family Sapindaceae. The following species are accepted by Plants of the World Online:
Scaphopetalum is a genus previously classified under the plant family Sterculiaceae. Currently, under the APG IV system the genus is placed under the subfamily Byttnerioideae of the family Malvaceae sensu lato. The distribution of the genus is restricted to the rain forests of Africa. In total 26 taxa have been described, 21 have been recognized, two invalid and one nomen nudus.
Sorindeia is a genus of some three dozen plant species that are native to tropical Africa, Madagascar, the Comoro Islands and Mascarene Islands. They are distinguished by their compound leaves, large inflorescences and distinctive fruit. In the case of S. madagascariensis, as many as 200 fruit may be carried on a pendant cluster.
Tricalysia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus is found in tropical and southern Africa and on the islands in the Western Indian Ocean.
Cola acuminata is a species in the genus Cola, of the family Malvaceae, native to tropical Africa. It is generally known for its fruit, the kola nut, originally used to impart the cola flavor in manufactured beverages, such as Coca-Cola.
Triumfetta is a genus of plants in the family Malvaceae. Burbark is a common name for plants in this genus.
Chassalia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus is found from tropical Africa to (sub)tropical Asia.
Octolobus is a genus of tropical forest trees in the family Malvaceae, subfamily Sterculioideae. They are found in Central and West Africa and are closely related to the genus Cola.
Deinbollia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Sapindaceae.
Leptonychia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Malvaceae.
Cola verticillata is a species of tree in the genus Cola, of the family Malvaceae, native to the forests of tropical Africa. Common names include owe cola, slippery cola and mucilage cola. It was first described by the Danish botanist Peter Thonning as Sterculia verticillata, and was given its current name of Cola verticillata by the Austrian botanist Otto Stapf and the French botanist Auguste Chevalier.
