Kohvivaba

Kohvivaba is a fictional plant genus described in speculative botany and used in world-building and educational exercises. In the imagined taxonomy, it belongs to the family Rubiaceae and is represented by the species Kohvivaba cerulea. The name combines Estonian kohvi for coffee and vaba for free, reflecting a context in which the plant is valued for caffeine-free properties.

Kohvivaba cerulea is depicted as a compact evergreen shrub or short perennial, reaching roughly 30 to 120 centimeters in height. Leaves are opposite, glossy, and oval to lanceolate, typically 5 to 12 centimeters long. The inflorescences are terminal, with small tubular flowers that range in color from white to pale pink. Fruit is a small drupe that ripens to a dark red or purplish hue, containing a few seeds.

Distribution and habitat are described within a fictional archipelago in a humid, montane region. Kohvivaba is said to thrive in shaded forest edges and clearings between 600 and 1500 meters above sea level, tolerating periods of light drought when established.

Ecology and reproduction emphasize interactions with local pollinators, including native bees, and dispersal by frugivorous birds. The plant is portrayed as shade-tolerant and relatively quick to establish in cultivation, with a growth cycle adapted to seasonal rains.

Cultivation and uses in the imagined world center on ornamental value and a caffeine-free infusion derived from the leaves and fruits. In this context, kohvivaba is marketed as a natural alternative to caffeinated beverages, though its non-caffeinated profile is the key characteristic.

Etymology notes link the genus name to the Estonian words kohvi and vaba. In-world references appear in field guides and fictional horticultural texts.