Ilex theezans

Mart. ex Reissek

Tea holly

AquifoliaceaeLeavesSpice/BeveragePotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves - tea

The leaves are brewed as tea, often mixed with true mate to add a bitter flavour.

Known Hazards

Although no specific reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, Ilex species in general contain several potentially toxic compounds, particularly saponins, glycosides and triterpenoids. These compounds also often have a range of potential health benefits. The berries are usually the part of the plant most likely to be toxic, though the degree of toxicity is usually low. Their bitter flavour usually prevents a person eating more than one or two, but even a small handful of the fruit eaten by a healthy adult is unlikely to cause more than feelings of nausea that can lead on to vomiting and diarrhoea. The compounds in the leaves are particularly interesting. The leaves of many Ilex species around the world are commonly used to make health-promoting teas that, when drunk on a regular basis, help to regulate bodily functions and can reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood-cholesterol levels etc (See Ilex paraguariensis or Ilex kaushue for examples). Even these teas, however, if taken in very concentrated doses, can act as a laxative or cause vomiting. Indeed, several species are used by traditional peoples to induce vomiting as a means of purifying the body (see Ilex guayusa or Ilex vomitoria for examples)

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant. It grows in high latitude regions in Brazil. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,200 m above sea level.

Argentina, Brazil, Guyana, Paraguay, South America, Venezuela,

Countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

How to Identify

A tree. It grows 12-18 m high. It has a round crown. The trunk is smooth and 30-50 cm across. The leaves are 5-10 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers are in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is round and red. It is 4-8 mm across. There are 2-6 small seeds.

How to Grow

Plants can be grown from seed. The seeds are removed by crushing the fruit is running water. The seeds have a hard seed coat and need to be stored in a cool, moist places for an extended period. The seeds are then planted and germinate in 30-50 days.

Propagation: Seed - usually slow to germinate because they have a hard seedcoat. They can be stratified in damp soil, which will speed up the ingress of moisture and reduce germination time. Sow the seeds in light shade in a nursery seedbed. Germination rates are moderate. Pot the seedlings up into individual containers when they are 4 - 6cm tall.

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are diuretic, stimulant and stomachic. As with the related Ilex paraguariensis (Yerba Mate), regular consumption of a tea made from the leaves of this species has been shown to have a range of beneficial regulatory effects upon the body, particularly by acting as an antioxidant and by regulating blood-lipid levels, thus lowering high cholesterol levels and improving circulation to the heart.

Other Uses

The fine to medium-textured wood is moderately heavy, soft and easy to work with but with poor mechanical properties and low durability. It is quite ornamental and is used for making laminates for furniture; pianos; general utensils etc.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Ilex theezans, also I. theæzans and I. theazans, is a species of the genus Ilex in the family Aquifoliaceae, native to Brazil and typically found in its Atlantic Forest. It is sometimes used as an adulterant of mate and sometimes confused with the yerba mate (I. paraguarensis). In Brazil, it is sometimes called orelha-de-mico; but is more often simply known as congonha ("holly") or caúna (along with I. dumosa. The species includes the subspecies I. theezans hieronymiana; the varieties I. theezans var. acrodonta, augusti, fertilis, gracilior, grandifolia, leptopylla, pachypylla, typica, and warmingiana; and the forms I. theezans f. glabra and puberula.

Names & Synonyms

Cauna-amargosa, Cauna, Cauna-de-folha-grande, Carvalho-nranco, Congonha, Miqueira, Orelha-de-nico

Ilex achrodonta ReissekIlex achrodonta var. angustifolia ReissekIlex fertilis ReissekIlex theezans var. achrodonta (Reissek) LoesPrinos serratus Vell.and others

References (2)

C. F. P. Martius, Fl. bras. 11(1):51. 1861
Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 318