''Erythroxylum australe'' is a shrub or small tree

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to northern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. The plant is known by a variety of names including Brigalow erythroxylon shrub and dogwood (unrelated to '' Cornus''). The plant grows in a wide variety of habitats in subcoastal and coastal regions, ranging from dry rainforest and vine thickets to open savanna woodland. The leaves contain 0.8%

meteloidine Meteloidine is an alkaloid found in some ''Brugmansia'' and ''Datura'' species. Its also found in '' Erythroxylum australe'' and is said to be cocaine-like alkaloid. Occurrence The first report of the isolation from a natural source of meteloidin ...

, an alkaloid similar to

cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally for its euphoria, euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from t ...

. All Erythroxylaceae species are banned in

NSW ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

References

australe Flora of Queensland Endemic flora of Australia Malpighiales of Australia Trees of Australia Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller {{Australia-rosid-stub