Garcinia kola

Why are the seeds of this species difficult? The seeds may have physiological dormancy, which can be overcome by mimicking the seasonal patterns of the species' native habitat.

Email your image to difficultseeds@kew.org

Seed Storage

This species has Orthodox seeds - dry to 15-20% eRH and store at -20ºC, or as cool as possible.

Germination Requirements

Germinate on agar, germination paper or sand at 20, 25 or 30ºC, depending on local climatic conditions.

The seeds of this species may be Physiologically Dormant (inferred from available information on germination and of characteristics of seeds in this family). This type of seed dormancy can be overcome by mimicking the seasonal patterns of the species' native habitat. Use a moist pre-chill or pre-heat treatment (depending on local climatic conditions) or a dry after-ripening treatment, before germinating the seeds on agar, germination paper or sand at their optimum temperature. If this does not work, you can perform delicate surgery to enable the embryo to grow. Excise the tissue near the root tip.

Seed Morphology

See images of this species at the Digital Atlas of Economic Plants.

Taxonomy

Family: CLUSIACEAE

Accepted name: Garcinia kola Heckel

Synonyms: Garcinia akawensis Spirlet, Garcinia bergheana Spirlet, Garcinia autraniana Pierre, Garcinia dinklagei Engl., Garcinia giadidi De Wild., Garcinia ndongensis Engl., Garcinia nitidula Engl.

Common name:

References and Links

Baskin, C.C. and Baskin J.M. (1998). Seeds: ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination. Academic Press, USA.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (1994). Genebank Standards. FAO/IPGRI, Rome, Italy.

AFPD (African Flowering Plants Database) - Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Switzerland, and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA: Garcinia kola.
Forest & Landscape Denmark - University of Copenhagen, Denmark: seed leaflet on Garcinia kola.
PROTAbase (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) - Wageningen, Netherlands: Garcinia kola.
SID (Seed Information Database) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK: Garcinia kola.
Tropicos - Missouri Botanical Garden, USA: Garcinia kola.