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Trujillo coca

Scientific Name: Erythroxylum novogranatense var. truxillense

Family: Erythroxylaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Erythroxylum novogranatense var. truxillense (Trujillo Coca)

  • Common Names: Trujillo coca, Colombian coca, Truxillo coca (English), coca de Trujillo (Spanish)
  • Synonyms: Erythroxylum novogranatense var. truxillense (Rusby) Plowman, Erythroxylum novogranatense (Morris) Hieron. var. truxillense (Rusby) Plowman

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Erythroxylaceae
  • Genus: Erythroxylum (sometimes spelled Erythroxylon)
  • Order: Geraniales
  • Taxonomic Status: Variety

Distribution and Habitat

  • Primarily grown in Peru and Colombia.
  • Cultivated in the river valleys of the north coast of Peru.
  • Also found in Cuzco and Tingo Maria in Peru.
  • Confined to desert areas.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Leaves of E. novogranatense var. truxillense do not have parallel lines on either side of the central vein.

Ecological Role

  • The larvae of Eucleodora Coca, a fly, seem to cause harm only to Trujillo coca.
  • The beetle, Aegoidus Pacificus, also poses a threat to Trujillo coca.

Quirky Facts

  • Trujillo coca leaves are sometimes described as having a hint of wintergreen in their taste, along with a grassy or hay-like taste. All coca varieties are distinctly bitter during the earliest stages of chewing.
  • It has been suggested that coca-cola might be one of the aromas produced by this plant.