Forest coca tree
Erythroxylum pictum
Family: Erythroxylaceae
What it is like
A shrub or medium sized tree. It can grow up to 13-18 m tall. It has many spreading branches. The bark is light grey and has cracks along it. The knobbly twigs are very flattened. The leaves are 4-7.5 cm long. They are oval with a rounded or notched tip. The upper surface is dark green and shiny and the lower surface light green. The midrib is raised under the leaf and about 10 pairs of hard to see veins loop around to the leaf edge. The leaves are on stalks 8 mm long. They have a pointed leafy structure (stipule) near the stalk which soon falls off. The flowers are cream and small. They are in the axils of leaves. The fruit is small and oval. It is about 1.3 cm long and bright red. The fruit are edible.
There are about 250 Erythroxylum species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in forests and on the edge of forests. In South Africa it grows from sea level up to 1700 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Lesotho, South Africa, Southern Africa
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten when ripe. The leaves are cooked as a vegetable.
The fruit are enjoyed.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Kanferboom