Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk. ex Endl.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Tree, 2–15 m high; branches rounded

Morphology Leaves

Petiole 3–10 mm long; blade (3.7–)5.5–11 x (0.8–)1.5–4.5(–6) cm, oblong to elliptic or obovate, ± leathery, dark or greyish green and glossy above, paler beneath, acuminate to obtuse at the apex, with markedly glandular-crenulate-denticulate margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes 1–2.3 cm long; peduncle 6–12 mm long; pedicels up to 2 mm long; flowers numerous, 2–3 mm in diam. Sepals 0.5–0.7 mm long, broadly ovate to semicircular, rounded, ciliate-fimbriate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 1–1.5 mm long, elliptic-oblong, with pale ciliate margin

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens shorter than petals

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk 1–1.5 mm in diam. Ovary broadly ovoid; styles slender; stigmas small

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule red, 0.6–1 cm long, narrowly oblong-trigonous, pendulous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 3 mm long, with narrow wing 2–2.5 times as long.

Distribution

Native in eastern tropical Africa from Ethiopia in the north to South Africa in the south, also cultivated in south-western Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Ecology

Intermediate altitudes.

Vernacular

Khaad, khat, qat (Somali).

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/34617/9878762

Conservation

LC - least concern

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Celastraceae, N.K.B. Robson, N. Hallé, B. Mathew & R. Blakelock†. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1994

Morphology General Habit

Tree 2–15(–25) m. high; branches pale grey-green and flattened when young, becoming vinous red, terete.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina dark green or greyish green and glossy above, paler beneath, oblong to elliptic or obovate, (3.7–)5.5–11 × (0.8–)1.5–4.5(–6) cm., acute to acuminate or more rarely obtuse at the apex, with margin markedly glandular-crenulate-denticulate, cuneate to attenuate at the base, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, with densely reticulate venation more prominent beneath than above; petiole 3–10 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes 1–2.3 cm. long, rather dense, with peduncle 6–12 mm. long; pedicels very short or up to 2 mm. long; flowers many in each cyme, 2–3 mm. in diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals broadly ovate to semicircular, rounded, 0.5–0.7 mm. long, with margin ciliate-fimbriate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals elliptic-oblong, 1–1.5 mm. long, sessile, with margin ciliolate and paler in colour.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens shorter than petals, with filaments 0.7–1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disc 1–1.5 mm. in diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary broadly ovoid; styles less than 0.5 mm. long, slender; stigmas small.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule red, narrowly oblong-3-gonous, 6–10 mm. long, pendulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown, rugose-papillose, with narrow wing 2–2.5 times as long.

Figures

Fig. 5.

Habitat

Evergreen submontane or medium altitude forest, usually near the margins, or in woodland often on rocky hills; 1100–1800(–2400) m.

Distribution

SW. Arabia and throughout eastern Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa (Cape Province), west to Angola K1 K3 K4 K5 K6 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1 U2