Genus of flowering plants
Erythroxylum is a genus of tropical flowering plants in the family Erythroxylaceae . Many of the approximately 200 species contain the tropane alkaloid cocaine ,[ 1] [ 2] and two of the species within this genus, Erythroxylum coca and Erythroxylum novogranatense , both native to South America, are the main commercial source of cocaine and of the mild stimulant coca tea .[ 3] Another species, Erythroxylum vaccinifolium (also known as catuaba ) is used as an aphrodisiac in Brazilian drinks and herbal medicine .
Erythroxylum species are food sources for the larvae of some butterflies and moths , including several Morpho species and Dalcera abrasa , which has been recorded on E. deciduum , and the species of Agrias .
Species
Erythroxylum citrifolium
Fruits of Erythroxylum deciduum
Erythroxylum tortuosum
As of 2021[update] , Kew 's Plants of the World Online listed 259 species:[ 4]
References