Coca

Trees or shrubs. Young branches distinctive, flattened, with raised lines decurrent from the petiole bases (particularly distinctive in E. emarginatum) Stipules persistent to caducous, completely united. Petals white to cream-yellow. Nectary appendage usually exceeding the calyx. Ovary (2-)3-locular. The two species of Erythroxylum are quite unlike each other in general appearance. Apart from the characters in the key, E. emarginatum has dark green, relatively thick, coriaceous leaves which are brittle and can be heard to crackle when folded and held against the ear. E. zambesiacum has thinly-textured leaves which are not brittle.