Catha

/ˈkɑːθə/ noun

Definition

A genus of tropical shrubs native to Africa and Arabia, known for the leaves that produce a stimulating effect when chewed; includes the khat plant.

Etymology

From Arabic 'qat' or 'khat,' the name of the plant, Latinized with the suffix '-a' following scientific botanical naming conventions.

Kelly Says

Catha edulis (khat) leaves are chewed for their stimulating properties in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and this plant has been culturally important for over a thousand years—yet only became scientifically interesting to Western botanists recently!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.