Arabo jiba
Erythroxylum roigii
Arabo jiba (Erythroxylum roigii) is a rare shrub or small tree species endemic to specific regions of the Caribbean, characterized by small oval leaves and tiny white flowers typical of the coca family. This woody plant plays an important ecological role as a food source for local pollinators and contributes to the structural diversity of native forest understories.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Family
Erythroxylaceae
Genus
Erythroxylum
Arabo jiba belongs to the family Erythroxylaceae, order Malpighiales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Arabo jiba (Erythroxylum roigii) is a rare shrub or small tree species endemic to specific regions of the Caribbean, characterized by small oval leaves and tiny white flowers typical of the coca family. This woody plant plays an important ecological role as a food source for local pollinators and contributes to the structural diversity of native forest understories.
Erythroxylum roigii faces severe threats primarily from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited range in Cuba. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, with small population sizes increasing extinction risk from stochastic events.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Erythroxylum roigii inhabits dry to semi-humid limestone forests and coastal scrublands, typically growing on rocky soils and limestone outcrops. The species is adapted to well-drained calcareous substrates in areas with seasonal rainfall patterns.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Erythroxylum roigii faces severe threats primarily from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited range in Cuba. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, with small population sizes increasing extinction risk from stochastic events.
Habitat loss from agricultural expansion
Limited geographic range
Small population size and genetic bottlenecks
Urban development and infrastructure
Climate change impacts on specialized habitat
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Arabo jiba (Erythroxylum roigii). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/arabo-jiba