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Ilex paraguariensis

Authority August Saint Hilaire (St Hil.) Family Magnoliopsida:Dilleniidae:Theales:Aquifoliaceae Synonyms Ilex domestica, Ilex paraguaiensis Common names erva (Br), erva-mate, mate, yerba mate Editor Ecocrop code 6869

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION An evergreen shrub or small tree reaching a height of up to 6-18 m. USES It is cultivated for its leaves, which contain from 0.2-2% caffeine. Leaves are used to produce beverage, tonic, nervine, diuretic and as a stimulant. KILLING T Frost resistant. GROWING PERIOD Perennial shrub or little tree. The leaves are collected from the plants every one to three years. (GMIN and GMAX estimated by the compiler). COMMON NAMES Mate, Brazilian tea, Verba, Paraguay tea, Erva congonha, Congonha, Congonheira, Erva-mate, Congoin, Caaguacu, Congonha grande, Orelha de burro, Ka'a, Caa, Erva periquita, Yerba mate, Te de los jesuitas. FURTHER INF Scientific synonyms: I. mate, I. curitibensis, I. domestica, I. sorbitis, I. theazans, I. vestita. Mate is usually cultivated in mountainous areas, and well adapted to humid conditions. Natural distribution in easten South America, at latitudes between 18-30°S. It can be found at elevations between 500 and 1500 m. Mentioned as a useful agroforestry species.
Sources
SOURCES (I. paraguariensis A. St-Hil. var. paraguariensis) Roecklein J 1987 pp 26 [USE] Duke J 1975 pp 18 [PH, RAIN, TEMP] Williams C 1979a pp 75-76 [FER, DRA, USE] Nair P 1980 pp 306-307 [FER, USE] FAO For. Paper 77 pp 307 Bermejo J 1994 pp 245-251 [USE, RAIN, TEMP, KTMP, FER, DRA, PH, TEXT]