PROTA is an international documentation programme on the useful plants of tropical Africa. It synthesizes dispersed information, makes it readily available in various forms and stimulates its use for extension, education, research, development and governance. It contributes to greater awareness and sustainable use of the world heritage of African useful plants, with due respect for traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights. PROTA has an interactive online database of African tropical species called PROTA4U, which offers several options for an advanced search.