Khat
Family Celastraceae
Catha edulis, khat (Cat. edulis 1), is a small tree, about 6 m tall, with opposite elliptic and serrate leaves, and small white flowers in axillary cymes. The fruit is an oblong and pendulous capsule.
Use
Khat occurs wild in East Africa and is cultivated in Ethiopia and Arabia for the buds and young leaves (Cat. edulis 2) which are chewed in Northeast Africa and Arabia for the stimulating effect. Leaves and buds contain an alkaloid with a relaxing and stimulating effect.