Erythroxylum novogranatense
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Erythroxylum novogranatense, also known as Colombian Coca,[2][3] is a species of shrub or small tree[4] in the family Erythroxylaceae native to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad-Tobago, and Venezuela.[1] It is used medicinally and as a narcotic.[4] Erythroxylum novogranatense is one of the primary species of cultivated Coca,[5] despite being less widely cultivated than Erythroxylum coca.[6]
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| Erythroxylum novogranatense | |
|---|---|
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| Flowering and fruiting E. novogranatense var. novogranatense | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Erythroxylaceae |
| Genus: | Erythroxylum |
| Species: | E. novogranatense |
| Binomial name | |
| Erythroxylum novogranatense | |
| Varieties | |
|
See here | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
Vegetative characteristics
Erythroxylum novogranatense is an up to 3 m tall[7] shrub or small tree.[4][7] The bright green, oblong-elliptic or obovate,[7] petiolate, simple, alternate leaves[4] with a 0.5 cm long petiole[7] are 1.2–4.7 cm long, and 1–1.8 cm wide.[4]
Generative characteristics
The continuously produced,[7] small, solitary or grouped, pedicellate,[4] hermaphrodite flowers[7] have five oblong, yellowish white, 0,4 cm long, and 0,2 cm wide petals.[7] The five 1.5 mm long sepals are basally fused.[4] The flowers are distylous[8] and partly self-compatible,[2] but only the pin (i.e. long-styled) flowers are partially self-compatible and the thrum (i.e. short-styled) flowers are self-incompatible.[8]
Cytology
The chromosome count of Erythroxylum novogranatense is 2n = 24.[9]
Taxonomy
It was first described as Erythroxylum coca var. novogranatense D.Morris by Daniel Morris in 1889.[1][10] It was elevated to the status of a separate species as Erythroxylum novogranatense (D.Morris) Hieron. by Georg Hans Emmo Wolfgang Hieronymus in 1895.[11] It is placed in the section Erythroxylum sect. Archerythroxylum.[12][13] It is closely related to Erythroxylum cataractarum, Erythroxylum gracilipes, and Erythroxylum coca.[2]
Varieties
It has three accepted varieties:[1]
- Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense
- Erythroxylum novogranatense var. tobagense O.E.Schulz
- Erythroxylum novogranatense var. truxillense (Rusby) Plowman
Etymology
The specific epithet novogranatense, from the Latin novus meaning new and granatensis meaning of Granada,[7] refers to the geographic origin of the plant in Colombia, which was formerly known as Nueva Granada.[7][14]
Distribution and habitat
Erythroxylum novogranatense is native to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad-Tobago, and Venezuela.[1] It is only known from cultivation[8][15] and Erythroxylum novogranatense would not persist in the wild without human intervention.[13] It tolerates non-acidic soils.[16] It has been Introduced to South-Central and Southeastern China, Hainan, Java, Leeward Islands, Sulawesi, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Windward Islands.[1]
Ecology
Erythroxylum novogranatense is a highland variety that is utilized in lowland areas. It is cultivated in drier regions in South America, where it requires irrigation.[17]
Toxicity
The cocaine content in leaves of E. novogranatense var. novogranatense is 0.55-0.93%, with an average of 0.77% and in E. novogranatense var. truxillense the cocaine content is 0.42-1.02%, with a mean of 0.72%.[18] The foliage also contains cinnamoylcocaine.[18][19] The plants also contain methyl salicylate.[14]
Use
As one of the oldest cultivated plants in the Americas,[20] Erythroxylum novogranatense has been cultivated as a source of cocaine[8] for thousands of years,[21] but its role in the production of cocaine is relatively small.[14] Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense represents about 20% of the coca crop grown in Colombia.[13] Erythroxylum novogranatense var. truxillense is used as a flavouring agent of Coca-Cola,[18][15][6] which uses decocainised extracts of this variety.[14] The cocaine produced by the process of decocanisation is sold for legal use in modern surgery for pain management.[13] Dried leaves of Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense are used in the preparation of coca tea by the indigenous Nasa tribe of Colombia.[22] The leaves of Erythroxylum novogranatense are also used to produce Coca flour.[23][24] It is cultivated as an ornamental plant[18][21] throughout tropical countries.[18]
