The coca plant resembles a blackthorn bush, and grows to a height of 2–3 m (7–10 ft).

The branches are straight, and the leaves, which have a green tint, are thin, opaque, oval, and taper at the extremities.

The flowers are small, and disposed in little clusters on short stalks; the corolla is composed of five yellowish-white petals, the anthers are heart-shaped, and the pistil consists of three carpels united to form a three-chambered ovary.

ipadu does not escape cultivation or survive as a feral or wild plant like E. coca var.

ipadu, which rarely produce seeds, is propagated through stem cuttings which remain viable for several weeks if kept moist.

[4] Since Amazonian coca is vegetatively propagated, entire plantations may be populated from the same clone.

Once sifted, the powder is combined with ashes from plants which serve as the necessary alkaline admixture for coca chewing.