Garcinia kola:
The seeds of several plants have been used either
wholly as a substitute for, or as adulterants of, true kola. All of
these, however, lack the characteristic principles of the true
kola. Among these plants is Garinia Kola (Heckel). The fruit of this
plant is rarely found as an adulterant of kola, as their external
features are entirely different. However, it bears the name of
false kola, male kola, and bitter kola. It is highly esteemed by the native of
Africa, though devoid of marked stimulant properties of true kola.
Negroes chewed it as a powerful aphrodisiac and, as masticatory,
they employ them in common colds. They contain tannin,
colour matter, and a brown and a yellowish- white resin but no alkaloids
(Harvey Wickes, 1898).