Common Name:

General Information

Ilex affinis is an evergreen tree with a dense, elongate crown; it can grow 4 - 8 metres tall. The straight, more or less cylindrical bole can be 30 - 45cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its leaves, which can be used medicinally and to make a tea. It is also a source of wood for local use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Paraguay, central and eastern Brazil, Bolivia.

Habitat

Rainforest, mainly in dense primary formations, favouring well-drained, moderately fertile sandy to clayey soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	6.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a position with moderate shade[]. Requires a well-drained soil, succeeding in sandy to clayey soils of medium fertility[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used to make a refreshing tea[]. They can be used as a substitute for Maté (Ilex paraguariensis) or as an adulterant for it[].

Medicinal

The leaves are laxative[].

Other Uses

The wood is fine-textured, straight-grained, moderately heavy, with moderate mechanical properties, not durable. It is only used locally, for purposes such as rural constructions, tool handles and simple furniture[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 90 - 150 days[]. When the seedlings are 5 - 6cm tall, pot them up into individual containers[].

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