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Useful Tropical Plants

Ilex cognata

Reissek

Aquifoliaceae


This species is accepted as good by the Kew Database 'Plants of the World Online' (https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:83166-1; accessed 25/02/2022), but is treated as a synonym of Ilex paraguariensis by the Flora do Brasil 2020 (http://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/reflora/listaBrasil/ConsultaPublicaUC/BemVindoConsultaPublicaConsultar.do?invalidatePageControlCounter=1&idsFilhosAlgas=%5B2%5D&idsFilhosFungos=%5B1%2C10%2C11%5D&lingua=&grupo=5&familia=null&genero=Ilex&especie=cognata&autor=&nomeVernaculo=&nomeCompleto=&formaVida=null&substrato=null&ocorreBrasil=QUALQUER&ocorrencia=OCORRE&endemismo=TODOS&origem=TODOS®iao=QUALQUER&estado=QUALQUER&ilhaOceanica=32767&domFitogeograficos=QUALQUER&bacia=QUALQUER&vegetacao=TODOS&mostrarAte=SUBESP_VAR&opcoesBusca=TODOS_OS_NOMES&loginUsuario=Visitante&senhaUsuario=&contexto=consulta-publica; accessed 25/02/2022)

+ Synonyms

Common Name: Chá do Mato

No Image.

General Information

Ilex cognata is an evergreen shrub or a small tree
The plant is a close relative of Ilex paraguariensis (Maté tea) and is sometimes harvested from the wild for making maté.

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[
274
Title
Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
Publication
 
Author
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J
Website
http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm
Publisher
Botanical Research Institute, Texas.
Year
1999
ISBN
1-889878-01-4
Description
An excellent flora, which is also available on-line.
,
293
Title
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes.
,
2070
Title
Genus Ilex L.: Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacology, and Pharmacology
Publication
Chinese Herbal Medicines, 2016, 8(3): 209-230
Author
Fan Yi, Xiao-ling Zhao, Yong Peng, Pei-gen Xiao
Website
http://10.1016/S1674-6384(16)60044-8
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
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[
293
Title
Poisonous Plants of North Carolina
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes.
].
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)[
2070
Title
Genus Ilex L.: Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacology, and Pharmacology
Publication
Chinese Herbal Medicines, 2016, 8(3): 209-230
Author
Fan Yi, Xiao-ling Zhao, Yong Peng, Pei-gen Xiao
Website
http://10.1016/S1674-6384(16)60044-8
Publisher
 
Year
2016
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. 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)

Botanical References


Range

S. America - southeast Brazil

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height5.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Ilex species generally tolerate most soils that are not water-logged[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The leaves are sometimes used to make a tea that contains some caffeine. The plant is a close relative of Ilex paraguariensis (Mate tea) and is sometimes used as an alternative or an adulterant.

Medicinal

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

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ilex+cognata>

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