Reports that this species is found in the Guayanas are erroneous and refer to Ilex daphnogenea Reissek

Common Name:

General Information

Ilex laurina is an evergreen tree that can grow around 4 - 30 metres tall with a bole that can be up to 60cm in diameter in old trees[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of wood and may be of value as a health-promoting herbal tea..
Ilex laurina has a wide distribution and there is no information on any specific threats causing significant decline The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[].

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)

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela

Habitat

Rich, moist woods[]. Dense, humid, evergreen tropical forest, subtropical, montane and premontane forests, usually growing on acidic soils; at elevations from 350 - 3,800 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Ilex species generally tolerate most soils that are not water-logged[]. This species is found in the wild on acidic soils[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

This species is recognized to be a crop wild relative of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.) and can be used like that species to make a tea[].

Medicinal

This species is recognized to be a crop wild relative of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.). It is used medicinally[].

It has been shown that medicinally active compounds in the leaves have promising antioxidant and anticancer potentials comparable to commercially available yerba mate tea ((Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil). An infusion of the leaves showed antiproliferative and apoptotic effects against colon cancer cells[].

Other Uses

The wood is soft when freshly harvested but becomes hard on drying. It is used to make kitchen utensils[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: How many suns are in our solar system