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Erythroxylum novogranatense, from Latin: novo = new, granatense = Granada ), is a neotropical species of Erythroxylum (Erythroxylaceae). It contains 2 subordinate taxa, i.e. Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense (D.Morris) Hieron (Colombian Coca, Java Coca) and Erythroxylum novogranatense var. truxillense (Rusby) Plowman (Trujillo Coca).

Taxonomy
Among the genus Erythroxylum, cocaine-rich leaves are obtained from 4 taxa:


 * E.coca var.coca (Bolivian or Huanuco coca) - well adapted to the eastern Andes of Peru and Bolivia, an area of humid, tropical, montane forest.
 * E.coca var.ipadu (Amazonian coca) - cultivated in the lowland Amazonian basin.
 * E.novogranatense var.novogranatense (Colombian coca) - a highland variety that is utilized in lowland areas. It is cultivated in drier regions in South America. However, E.novogranatense is very adaptable to varying ecological conditions. The leaves have parallel lines on either side of the central vein.
 * E.novogranatense var.truxillense (Trujillo coca) - the leaves of E.novogranatense var.truxillense does not have parallel lines on either side of the central vein like all other varieties.

E. coca var.coca is considered the ancestor, while E.novogranatense var.truxillense is derived from it, and E.novogranatense var. novogranatense derived from E.novogranatense var. truxillense. Wild populations of E.coca var.coca are found in the eastern Andes, but the other 3 taxa are only known as cultivated plants.

E.novogranatense var.novogranatense is native to Colombia and Venezuela, but its adaptability and easy propagation has led to a wide distribution over the Old and New World tropics. It was introduced in the Bogor Botanical Garden (West Java, Indonesia) in 1875, and by 1888 large quantities of seed were already being distributed in South-East Asia. It has been grown in Peninsular Malaysia, western and eastern Java (Indonesia), northern Borneo (Indonesia), northern Sulawesi (Indonesia) and the Philippines (Luzon).

E. novogranatense var. truxillense is grown in arid areas in northern Peru. Neither of these 2 varieties is known from wild populations.

Cocaine Content
In an extensive study, the cocaine content in leaves of E.coca var.coca (30 samples) was found to range from 0.23-0.96%, with a mean of 0.63%, while the cocaine content in E.coca var.ipadu (6 samples) was lower: 0.11-0.41%, with an average of 0.25%. E.novogranatense var.novogranatense (3 samples) contained 0.55-0.93% cocaine, with an average of 0.77% and E.novogranatense var. truxillense (14 samples) 0.42-1.02%, with a mean of 0.72%.

Ecology
E.novogranatense is a highland variety that is utilized in lowland areas. It is cultivated in drier regions in South America. However, E.novogranatense is very adaptable to varying ecological conditions, and grows well in both humid and dry areas, and at low and higher altitudes. In Java (Indonesia), E.novogranatense has been cultivated from sea-level to 1000 m altitude, with best results at 400-600 m. In controlled environment studies, the optimum average daily temperature for leave growth for E.novogranatense var.novogranatense was found to be around 27 C (80.6 F), whereas leaf growth was generally higher at photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) of 250 or 400 micromol per meter square per second than at 155 micromol per meter square per second. Environmental effects on the cocaine concentration in the leaves were smaller, so that total cocaine production per plant was largely a function of leaf mass, with environmental conditions that stimulated leaf growth giving higher cocaine yields. Both species grow on soils with low pH, and a greenhouse study has shown that the optimum pH for biomass accumulation of E.novogranatense is between 4.7 - 6.0.

Propagation and Planting
E.novogranatense var.novogranatense, E.novogranatense var.truxillense and E.coca var.coca have to be reproduced by seed, because vegetative propagation is difficult. However, E.coca var.ipadu does not produce seed and is produced by stem cuttings. It cannot reproduce without human interference. Cultivated E.novogranatense var.novogranatense produces abundant seed and is easy to propagate. Seed viability decreases rapidly. Germination percentages of E.coca and E.novogranatense seed were found to decrease from around 95% and 89% directly after harvesting to 29% and 0%, respectively, after 24 days of storage at 4 C (39 F). Coca seedlings are usually sown in shaded nurseries and transplanted to the field when they are about one year old and 20-25 cm tall. In the field, they are planted at a spacing of 1-2 m. The actual time of transplanting and the spacing of the plants varies with climatic factors and whether coca is interplanted or cultivated as a sole corp. Another interesting point is the South American coca farmers when collecting their seeds, pour them into a container of water and the seeds that float are discarded as they are non viable, another fact is that seeds collected from a plant grown by cutting, ie clonal propagation are not viable as they possess no embryo. Most South American coca farmers use this method as it results in earlier harvesting, and as a consequence the chance of obtaining viable seeds from Peru etc is becoming very difficult.

Identification
The basic physical difference between E.coca and E.novogranatense is that the E.coca (sometimes called E.bolivianum) has larger leaves that are elliptical, oval and broader above the middle. The E.novogranatense has smaller, narrower leaves and is broadest in the middle making a more regular oval shape (See the illustration). To identify E. novogranatense var. novogranatense from E.novogranatense var.truxillense: The leaves of E.novogranatense var.truxillense does not possess parallel lines either side of the central vein like all other varieties.

Harvesting
The first harvest of coca takes place at 1-3 years after transplanting. In the Island of Java (Indonesia), a first harvest can be expected within a year after transplanting. The leaves have to be stiff and easily detachable to be harvested. Leaves can be harvested every 50-60 days in the rainy season, but when it is drier, they are usually harvested every 3-4 months. The leaves should be pinched from the plant, not ripped off.