The Misjudged Coca Plant

One of the most prejudiced plants commercially grown and harvested is the coca plant. Most commonly associated with being the plant which cocaine is derived from, it has the stereotype of being a dangerous plant. However, the coca plant has many valid and safe uses, which have been utilized by herbalists since the species' discovery.

South America, Africa, Ceylon, Taiwan, Indonesia and Formosa are the regions that the coca plant is best suited for living. However, it is most commonly known for its existence in the Andes of South America, where the majority of cocaine is created. The first known documentation of the species was in 1783, but it was not officially registered until 1786, where it was given the name Erythroxylum coca. However, it is believed that the coca plant has been established as a domestic species for over 2,000 years. There is proof within burial grounds of coca to lend credence this belief.

Nurturing the coca plant needs diligence and effort. The life of the coca plant starts as a fruit, which is gathered when the drupes are almost ripe. These drupes are set within a basket and left to sit where the flesh of the fruit becomes soft. Once this has occurred, the seeds are taken and the seeds are placed in the sun to dry out.

Only once this happens, the seeds can be planted. It takes 24 days for the coca plant to germinate. Once the plant has sprouted 4 leaves, they are guarded by a lattice covering for a year.

After the year has finished, the plants are transferred to preparation fields. This transportation can only be done within the rainy season. Three years after this transfer, some leaves may be processed. Once the coca plant is able to be harvested, they are gathered three or four times a year. A fully established acre of coca plants can yield 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of leaf per year.

While coca plants are annual, a field will be resown once every twenty years, as the quality of the plant fades over time.

As coca plants are so pricey, there are many steps taken to protect the crops from natural predators and disease. There are a few varieties of pests that prey on the coca plants, as well as fungus that can harm or destroy the stalks, branches and leaves. Weeds can also be fatal to young coca plants, as the weeds rob the soil of the nutrients that the plants need for basic survival.

The most common use of coca plants is in the popular soft drink, Coca-Cola.While this soda no longer contains cocaine, it is still made directly from the coca leaf.

Contemporary medicinal uses of coca include use as a bactericide, as spinal anesthetics and as treatments for diseases such as eczema and shingles.

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