Abstract
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><p>Wood anatomy of five <em>Cola</em> species was investigated to identify and describe anatomical features in search of distinctive characters that could possibly be used in the resolution of their taxonomy. Transverse, tangential and radial longitudinal sections and macerated samples were prepared into microscopic slides. Characteristic similarity and disparity in the tissues arrangement as well as cell inclusions were noted for description and delimitation. All the five <em>Cola</em> species studied had essentially the same anatomical features, but the difficulty posed by the identification of <em>Cola acuminata </em>and <em>Cola nitida</em> when not in fruit could be resolved using anatomical features. <em>Cola acuminata</em> have extensive fibre and numerous crystals relative to <em>Cola nitida</em>,<em> </em>while<em> Cola hispida </em>and <em>Cola millenii</em> are the only species having monohydric crystals. <em>Cola gigantica </em>is the only species that have few xylem fibres while other species have extensive xylem fibre. These features have proved very functional and strongly of diagnostic value in the classification and delimitation of the studied <em>Cola </em>species.</p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span>
Highlights
The genus Cola, belonging to the family Sterculiaceae, it is indigenous to West Tropical Africa
Wood anatomy of five Cola species was investigated to identify and describe anatomical features in search of distinctive characters that could possibly be used in the resolution of their taxonomy
All the five Cola species studied had essentially the same anatomical features, but the difficulty posed by the identification of Cola acuminata and Cola nitida when not in fruit could be resolved using anatomical features
Summary
The genus Cola, belonging to the family Sterculiaceae, it is indigenous to West Tropical Africa. Beaiv) Schott and Endl and C. verticillata) is a crop plant of hot tropical lowland forest with a rainfall extending over a period of 8 months or more and a temperature of between 23oC and 28oC It needs deep and well drained soil and thrives in sheltered valleys on the fringes of forest relic where such soil rich in humus occur (Quarcoo, 1977). Oyebade (1973) described only Cola nitida and C. acuminata as the Nigerian economic Cola species out of the over 50 species recorded in West Africa, C. verticillata and C. anomala are well recognized in the Nigerian Cola market These popularly known species are cultivated in Nigeria mainly for their nuts, which contain some alkaloids (caffeine, theobromine and kolanin). This work was undertaken to identify and describe anatomical features of five Cola species in search of distinctive characters of high diagnostic values that could possibly be used to resolve the taxonomy of the studied taxa
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