78 COFFEE 



glossy in appearance because of the nature of the leaves. Branches 

 glabrous, spreading, subterete, somewhat compressed toward the free 

 extremities. Leaves 11.3 cm. to 15 cm. to 30 cm. long by 3.75 cm. 

 to 5.0 cm. to 1 1.9 cm. wide; elliptical-obovate, shortly acuminate, 

 cuneiform or obtusely narrowed at the base, somewhat undulated at 

 the margin, thinly coriaceous, dark, glossy green above, lighter and 

 dull beneath, paired lateral veins 8 to 12 with axillary glands open- 

 ing by a small aperture beneath; petiole 0.9 cm. to 1.6 cm. long; 

 stipules broadly ovate, apiculate, connate at the base, shorter than 

 the petiole, stipule 0.3 cm. to 0.4 cm. long. Flowers 6- to 8-merous, 

 subsessile, several in a cluster, axillary, 2.5 cm. long when expanded; 

 bracteoles connate, calyculate, depresso-deltoid, subtruncate, all short- 

 er than the subtruncate calyx; sometimes one oval bracteole is pro- 

 duced above the others; corolla-lobes 6 to 8, oval, obtuse, about as 

 long as the tube, spreading. Anthers 6 to 8, wholly exserted, 1.25 

 cm. long; filaments 0.62 cm. long. Style exserted, bifid; calyx-limb 

 annular, very short. Fruit in globular or oval berry-like form, 1.9 

 cm. to 2.5 cm. long or even more, yellowish-red, turning black when 

 mature; seeds 1.25 cm. or more long. Mature fruit remains hang- 

 ing on plant for 2 months, and remains hard and fibrous. Caffeine- 

 content of the seed 1.29 to 1.68%. 



Diagnostic Characters of the Species: — Leaves larger than any 

 other economic species. Flowers in bloom nearly the entire year; 

 I bracteole often produced above the others. Berry larger than any 

 other economic species ; pericarp 5 times as wide as C. arabica L. 

 and has fibro-vascular bundles not only in the inner half but inter- 

 mixed, in limited number, in the outer portion ; thereby restricting 

 the very considerable tenacity of the tissue. The thicker meso- 

 carp corresponds to a still thicker endocarp. 



Synonymy: — Coffea arabica Benth. in Hook. Nig. Fl. (1849) 413. 



Common Names: — Liberian Giant or Liberian Coffee; Abeokuta 

 Coffee; Monrovian Coffee. 



Geographical Distribution: — Native of West Africa; Liberia; 

 S. W. Africa, Golumgo Alto, Cazengo; abundant and indigenous 

 along river Luinha. Widely distributed and cultivated in Trop. 

 Africa. Introduced into India, Ceylon, Madagascar, West Indies, 

 Brazil, Guiana, Surinam, East Indies, Java, etc. 



