64 



resiniferous undivided, tubercled. Cotyledon and radicle not 

 developed till germination (Masters, in Journ. Bot. 1875, p. 65). 



Lagos ; Agege ; Uwet ; Old Calabar. Distributed throughout 

 West Africa, between 10° N. and 5° S. lat. (De Candolle, Monogr. 

 Phanerog. viii. 1893, p. 487). 



Dr. Masters in 1875 was able to determine that the Bitter Kola 

 was a species of Garcinia and placed on record the more prominent 

 characteristics of the plant, though he did not venture on a 

 specific name (Journ. Bot. iv. 1875, p. 65). 



According to Milton (Journ. Bot. iv. 1875, p. 65), the newly 

 dried nuts are esteemed by the natives as a remedy in cases of 

 cough, and are said to improve the voice of the singer. The 

 bitter principle is agreeable and free from the astringency of the 

 common red and white Colas, and it imparts to water a pleasant 

 sweet taste. The Bitter Kola is also said to be a good restorative 

 after sea-sickness ; it is eaten by the natives to enhance the flavour 

 of liquor (McLeod, Herb. Kew) and used as a remedy for dysentery 

 (Monteiro, Mus. Kew). 



The " Bitter Kola " of Sierra Leone, collected by Scott Elliot, 

 belongs to a very different species, obviously allied to G. punctata, 

 Stapf, and probably undescribed. 



Vesque in De Candolle's Monograph of the Guttiferae (viii. 1893, 

 p. 487) keeps the " Bitter Kola " of Masters separate from that of 

 Heckel, and records it as G. floribunda, but states that the two 

 plants are possibly identical. There appears therefore to be some 

 uncertainty as to the exact botanical identity of the Bitter Kola, 

 and while giving Heckel's specific name it is considered preferable 

 to give the original description of Masters, as applying more 

 particularly to the Lagos plant, until flowering specimens have 

 been obtained from W. Africa. 



The seeds of the Bitter Kola do not appear to possess the same 

 stimulating properties as those of the true Kola (Cola acuminata), 

 and are of less commercial importance. The fresh nuts of Bitter 

 Kola (Garcinia Kola) in West Africa are worth 2s. for 200 nuts, 

 whilst the value of the nuts of Coke acuminata is 3s. to 4s. Qd. for 

 200 (von Bernegau in Der Tropenflanzer, 1904, p. 361). 



The tree is said to flourish under the same conditions as are 

 required for Cola acuminata, q.v. 



Bef.—" Male Kola or Bitter Kola," Heckel & F. Schlagden- 

 hauffen, in Journ. Pharm. Chimie, Ser. 5, viii. 1883, pp. 87-91 : 

 Translation in Pharm. Journ. [3] xiv. 1884, p. 586, and in 

 Christy's " New Comm. PI. and Drugs," No. 8, 1885, pp. 11-12.— 

 " Composition of False Cola," C. Kr., in Just, Jahresb. 1884, 

 ii. p. 92. — " Export of Bitter Cola from Lagos," Warburg, in Der 

 Tropenpflanzer, 1898, pp. 221-223. 



Garcinia Mangostana, Linn. ; Sp PI. p. 443. 



A small tree 20-30 feet, branches many, decussate. Leaves 

 6-10 in. long, 2^-4J in. broad ; very coriaceous ; nerves regular, 

 close, inarching with an intra -marginal one. Male flowers in 3-9 

 flowered terminal fascicles ; pedicels short. Berry as large as an 

 orange, smooth dark-purple ; pericarp firm, spongy. Seeds large, 

 flattened ; aril very fleshy, white, juicy (Fl. Brit. Ind. i. p. 260). 



