Taxonomy_of_the_coffee_plant

Here is a first slide that lists famous, traditional Arabica varieties (taken from Illy 2006). Some of those
Arabica varieties can be distinguished botanically, e.g. C. arabica var. laurina with pointy leaves and seeds
and C. arabica var. bullata with round leaves, but they do not form a natural taxon.
The two most renowned Arabica varieties are the oldest and worldwide distributed Typica and Bourbon.
They were the start of many other varieties and they exhibit excellent cup qualities. Some countries are
famous for their renowned varieties that also provide excellent cup profiles, e.g. SL 28 and SL 34 in Kenya
or Blue Mountain in Jamaica or Kona in Hawaii.
Other varieties were selected because of their higher productivity, e.g. dwarf varieties Catuai and Caturra
that can be planted at higher densities. Both varieties are widely distributed in Central and South America,
but they are both on the downgrade due to susceptibility diseases. Also Villa Sarchi and Pacas are dwarf
varieties, which are less distributed than Caturra or Catuai.
Few varieties were selected because of their higher resistance against pests and diseases, e.g. Kent in
Kenya, other were selected because of higher yield, e.g. Mundo Novo in Brazil, Tekesik in Central America.
Also in Ethiopia, several varieties became famous, named after the region where they were grown, e.g.
Jimma, Harar, Yirga Chefe.
To be considered a distinct Arabica variety, the must meet some criteria
• The variety is homogenous: precise description by set of characteristics and all plants look the same.
• The variety is different: It is distinguishable from other varieties based on the above characteristics.
• The variety is stable: The variety can be reproduced in such a manner that its characteristics are
unchanged in the next generation.
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