Short cusp holly
Ilex brevicuspis

Family: Aquifoliaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 10-20 m high. The trunk is 30-60 cm across. The bark is smooth. The crown is tall and pyramid shaped. The leaves are papery. They are 2.5-6 cm long by 1.2-1.9 cm wide. The flowers are small and in groups in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a berry with 2-4 seeds and a thin pulp.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forests in the Amazon in Brazil. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, South America, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as a blend for erva-mate tea but it is not popular.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and the seeds squeezed out under running water. The seeds need to be buried in cold damp soil for 6 months and fresh seed may take one year to germinate. Seedlings can be transplanted in to the field after 10 months.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Cauna, Cauna-da-serra, Congonha, Orelha-de-mico, Voadeira

Synonyms

Ilex caaguazuensis Loes.;