Coca is any of the four cultivated plants in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America. Coca is known worldwide for its psychoactive alkaloid, cocaine.

Coca plants, scientifically known as Erythroxylum coca, are small shrubs native to South America. These plants grow best in tropical and subtropical regions with high humidity and moderate temperatures. Coca plants have dark green leaves and …

Mar 19, 2025 · coca, (Erythroxylum coca), tropical shrub, of the family Erythroxylaceae, the leaves of which are the source of the drug cocaine. The plant, cultivated in Africa, northern South America, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan, grows about 2.4 metres (8 feet) tall.

Feb 10, 2025 · The name of the infamous coca plant comes from the Aymara language—“khoka” is the word for “tree.” But despite going by just one name, there are actually two distinct species of this infamous plant, each of which can be further divided into two varieties .

Coca is an indigenous plant of South America with numerous alkaloid components, the most well-known one of which is the psychoactive component, cocaine. Its leaves have been a staple in the Andean lifestyle for thousands of years. Strong interest in coca use has existed in the anthropological world for decades.

Erythroxylum coca is one of two species of cultivated coca. The coca plant resembles a blackthorn bush, and grows to a height of 2–3 m (7–10 ft). The branches are straight, and the leaves, which have a green tint, are thin, opaque, oval, and taper at the extremities.

Jul 10, 2024 · An 8000-year history of traditional coca use by humans is now overshadowed by barely a century of drug-trade-driven, industrialised coca production that has put the plant at the heart of deforestation and armed conflict.

An acre of coca trees produced about a ton of coca leaves, which yields about a half a kilogram (pound) of cocaine. Peasants growing coca earn about twice as much as they would growing coffee. About 200,000 to 400,000 hectares (a half million to a million acres) of land is believed to have been under cultivation for coca in the 1980s.

By building a full coca family tree and establishing how we can identify various coca varieties, we empower local authorities and organisations to better appreciate coca’s diversity.

All You should know about Coca Tree (Erythroxylum Coca) > how to care and characteristics 🌱 PlantIn 🌿 Our best expert are here for your plants!