Arabic coffe

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• coffee-tree
• Coffee
• Arabica Coffee
• coffeetree
• Kona Coffee

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Coffea arabica var. murta
• Coffea arabica var. sundana
• Coffea arabica var. polysperma
• Coffea arabica var. variegata
• Coffea arabica var. longistipulata
• Coffea arabica var. maragogype
• Coffea arabica var. mokka
• Coffea arabica var. monosperma
• Coffea arabica var. pendula
• Coffea arabica var. pubescens
• Coffea arabica var. purpurascens
• Coffea arabica var. rotundifolia
• Coffea arabica var. straminea
• Coffea arabica var. amarella
• Coffea arabica var. bourbon
• Coffea arabica var. brevistipulata
• Coffea arabica var. bullata
• Coffea arabica var. columnaris
• Coffea arabica var. erecta
• Coffea sundana
• Coffea vulgaris
• Coffea moka
• Coffea corymbulosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Coffea arabica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Gentianales and the family Rubiaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Coffea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions in the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. Its presence also extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically within the Congo. Furthermore, the species inhabits the nation of Gabon. Finally, its geographical range includes the islands located within the Gulf of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Coffea arabica is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2600 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 1500 m AMSL. While it can be found across diverse landscapes, its presence is notably documented within anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), where human intervention and agricultural management significantly shape its growing environment and ecological footprint.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Coffea arabica are characterized by a complex polyploid nature that distinguishes it from many other species within the Rubiaceae family. The species is fundamentally an allotetraploid, possessing a diploid base number that results in a total chromosome number of 2n = 4x = 44, although variations in chromosomal counts such as 22, 66, or 88 can be observed in different cytogenetic contexts or related lineages. Specifically, the ploidy level of 2 (referring to its tetraploid status relative to its diploid progenitors) reflects its hybrid origin, arising from the natural hybridization of Coffea canephora and Coffea eugenioides. This genetic configuration contributes to its unique genomic architecture, which plays a critical role in its phenotypic expression, including its specific chemical profiles and adaptation to diverse environmental conditions.

Chromosome number :

22,44,66,88

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Coffea arabica is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to maintain productive growth over many years. Structurally, it is classified as a phanerophyte, as it develops significant woody stems that elevate its photosynthetic organs above the ground level, though it can also exhibit characteristics of a nanophanerophyte depending on its specific growth habit and pruning. Throughout its life cycle, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains lush and functional across different seasons rather than shedding leaves seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Coffea arabica is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. It is a terrestrial, self-supporting plant that functions independently, showing no parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a maximum height of approximately 5 meters, with a mean height of around 5.8 meters, though individual specimens may range from a minimum of 2 meters up to 5 meters in height. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, allowing it to maintain a stable, self-supporting habit without the need for climbing or vining mechanisms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

5.8 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Coffea arabica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic efficiency and environmental requirements. The plant's vegetative structure features an opposite leaf arrangement, where the leaves are non-succulent and do not possess the capacity to act as a nitrogen fixer. The foliage is morphologically defined by an elliptic leaf form, with dimensions ranging from a minimum leaf length of 6 cm to a maximum of 20 cm, and a width that varies between 2.5 cm and 7.5 cm.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

7.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Coffea arabica begins with the development of cyme inflorescences featuring white flowers that typically measure between 0.7 cm and 0.8 cm in length. The flowering period generally commences in July and concludes in September, though this timing can be variable. These flowers rely on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing insects such as bees to facilitate fertilization, which is also noted to be present through self-fertilization. Following pollination, the plant produces fleshy drupes that are initially green in color. These fruits vary in size, with a length ranging from 1 cm to 1.8 cm and a width between 1.2 cm and 1.5 cm. Each fruit typically contains between 1 and 10 seeds. The resulting seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.32095875 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.1323 g to a maximum of 0.4717 g) and a consistent volume of 440 mm³. Dispersal of the species is characterized as anthropochorous, occurring through human intervention.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

0.8 cm

Flower length min:

0.7 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit colour :

green

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

1.8 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width min:

1.2 cm

Inflorescence :

cyme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.4717 g

Seed mass mean:

0.32095875 g

Seed mass min:

0.1323 g

Seed volume max:

440 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Coffea arabica has 4 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, flower, fruit.

Leaf

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Seed

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Medicine and pharmacy reports

Flower

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Fruit

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Chemicals

Coffea arabica has 148 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include caffeine, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Kahweol, Flavonoids, cafestol.

caffeine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
3. Medicine and pharmacy reports
4. Pharmaceutics
5. Life sciences

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences
4. Medicine and pharmacy reports
5. Food chemistry

Kahweol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
3. Food chemistry
4. Metabolites
5. Nutrition and cancer

Flavonoids

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Medicine and pharmacy reports
3. Nutrients
4. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

cafestol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food chemistry
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Nutrition and cancer

caffeic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacological research
3. Pharmaceutics
4. IARC scientific publications

Trigonelline

1. Dr. Duke
2. Metabolic brain disease
3. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Isochlorogenic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chinese journal of natural medicines

p-coumaric acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

palmitic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food chemistry

Activities

Coffea arabica has 506 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. American journal of clinical dermatology
3. Medicine and pharmacy reports
4. Metabolic brain disease
5. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
3. Pharmaceutics

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function

Antimicrobial

1. Medicine and pharmacy reports
2. Environmental science and pollution research international

Anxiolytic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in veterinary science

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Addictive

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Coffea arabica has 46 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, antidiabetic, hair loss, obesity.

Inflammation

1. Nutrients
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
3. Pharmacological research

Neurodegenerative disorders

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences
2. Nutrients
3. Metabolic brain disease

Antidiabetic

1. Food & function
2. Fitoterapia

Hair loss

1. American journal of clinical dermatology
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Obesity

1. Current research in food science
2. Physiological research

Alzheimer's disease

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Aspergillus fumigatus

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Bacillus subtilis

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Cognitive dysfunction

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Huntington's disease

1. Neurochemical research

Preparations

Coffea arabica has 9 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Green Coffee (GC), Kombucha fermented extracts, Roasted Coffee (RC), coffee extracts, green.

Green coffee (gc)

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Kombucha fermented extracts

1. Food & function

Roasted coffee (rc)

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Coffee extracts

1. Natural product research

Green

1. Food chemistry

Plant extracts

1. Frontiers in veterinary science

Roasted

1. Food chemistry

Standardized extracts

1. Nutrients

Unfermented extracts

1. Food & function