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Colombian coca
Scientific Name: Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense
Family: Erythroxylaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Erythroxylon coca: The Coca Plant
Erythroxylon coca, commonly known as the coca plant, is primarily known as the source of cocaine.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Erythroxylon coca
- Family: Erythroxylaceae
Distribution and Habitat
- The coca plant grows almost exclusively in northern and western South America.
- Specifically mentioned as being cultivated in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia.
Ecological Role
- Deforestation in humid tropical forests, particularly in the Amazon region of Colombia, is linked to coca crop cultivation.
- Glyphosate, used in aerial herbicide spraying for coca crop eradication, may have long-term effects on the soil and people.
Uses and Implications
- Coca leaves are the raw ingredient for cocaine production.
- Coca cultivation is a significant part of the economy in Colombia.
- Efforts to eradicate coca crops have been a major focus of both Colombian and U.S. policy.