CHAPTER XVII 



COFFEE 



Species. Almost all of the coffee of the world is the 

 product of one species of tree, Coffea arabica. A small 



amount is also produced 

 by Coffea liberica and by 

 hybrids between the two 

 species. 



Coffea arabica is a small 

 tree, rarely more than 5 

 meters high, with oppo- 

 site, simple, entire, smooth 

 and shining, evergreen 

 leaves, 8 to 12 cm long. 

 The flowers are borne in 

 axillary clusters. 



Coffea liberica is a 

 larger tree, with leaves 20 

 to 30 cm long, and larger 

 fruit than Arabian coffee. 

 It has an inferior flavor, 

 and has come into cultivation only since the coffee rust 

 made the culture of Coffea arabica a risky business in 

 Ceylon and Java. 



160 



FIG. 109. Coffee fruit 



