It is sometimes suggested that this species is merely a form of Coffea canephora[].

Common Name:

General Information

Coffea congensis is an evergreen shrub with a richly branched stem system, growing up to 7 metres tall[].
The seeds of this species are occasionally used to make coffee, but the plant is valued more for its potential value in breeding programmes to improve C. Canephora[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Western Tropical Africa - Congo river basin.

Habitat

Wet primary forest, where it tolerates waterlogging[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	7.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland humid tropics[].
Prefers a well-drained fertile, neutral to slightly acid soil[].
Readily hybridises with C. canephora to form the well-known hybrids 'Congusta' of Java and the CxR cultivar of India[].
This species is generally not planted for coffee production, but is often kept in germ plasm collections for use in breeding programmes[].

Edible Uses

The seeds are roasted and ground into a powder to be used as a drink. Rich in caffeine, it is strongly stimulating. The seeds are smaller than in the more commonly cultivated species of coffee[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Propagation is usually by seed. The viability of the seeds is comparatively short, depending upon conditions, and it is advisable to plant within 2 months of harvesting. The older the seeds, the longer they take to germinate and they lose viability. They can be planted with the parchment attached but germination is quicker when it is removed[]. Seedlings can be raised in shaded nurseries, planting them out into their permanent positions when 6 - 12 months old[].
Layering
Air layering
Budding. For rooting of coffee cuttings, the single leaf-bud cutting is commonly used[].

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