Erythroxylum
Erythroxylum, commonly known as the coca plant, is a genus of shrubs native to South America. Historically revered by indigenous cultures for its medicinal and ritualistic properties, it contains alkaloids with profound physiological effects. Today, it remains a subject of significant botanical study and complex legal regulation worldwide.
- Scientific name: Erythroxylum
- Family: Erythroxylaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is a member of the family Erythroxylaceae. It is specifically classified under the genus Erythroxylum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Erythroxylaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Erythroxylum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, belonging to the genus Erythroxylum, is known by various names across different linguistic regions. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 古柯属 (zh-hans), 古柯属 (zh-cn), and 古柯属 (zh-sg), while in Traditional Chinese, it is identified as 古柯屬 (zh-hant) and 古柯屬 (zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 古柯属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 古柯屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 古柯屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 古柯属 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 古柯属 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 古柯屬 | Wikidata |
| pl | Krasnodrzew | Wikidata |
| ru | Эритроксилум | Wikidata |
| fi | kokapensaat | Wikidata |
| hu | kokacserje | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is found across several specific regions within West Tropical Africa. Its geographical presence includes the nation of Benin, where it grows in local environments. It is also distributed through Burkina and the coastal country of Ghana. Furthermore, the species can be identified within the borders of Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its range extends into the neighboring territory of Guinea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Erythroxylum, contains various components that have been historically studied for their chemical properties. The leaves are the most prominent part of the plant, often harvested and dried for their concentrated alkaloid content. Additionally, the bark of the stem and branches can be utilized, providing another source of bioactive compounds within the plant's structure.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Erythroxylum has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Aphrodisiac, Psychoactive.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Aphrodisiac | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Psychoactive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |