This is a small tree or shrub,native of the mountains of eastern tropical Africa, now cultivated and naturalised in the lower mountainous regions of many other tropical countries, In consequence of the common coffee (Coffea arabica, Linn.) being very much injured under cultivation by various animal and vegetable parasites, it has been largely replaced during the last few years by another species (Coffea liberica), which is a more robust plant, and therefore, it is hoped, better able to resist the attacks of parasitic organisms.