Maytenus
Encyclopedia
Maytenus is a genus of flowering plant
s in the staff vine
family, Celastraceae
. Members of the genus are distributed throughout Central
and South America
, Southeast Asia
, Micronesia
and Australasia
, the Indian Ocean
and Africa
. They grow in a very wide variety of climates, from tropical to subpolar.
and M. magellanica
are the most known species in Europe
and the United States
because these are the most cold-tolerant trees of this mostly tropical
genus. Maytenus ebenifola is added to some versions of the hallucinogenic drink Ayahuasca
.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s in the staff vine
Staff vine
The staff vines, also known as staff trees or bittersweet, genus Celastrus, comprise about 30 species of shrubs and vines. They have a wide distribution in East Asia, Australasia, Africa and the Americas....
family, Celastraceae
Celastraceae
The Celastraceae , is a family of about 90-100 genera and 1,300 species of vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the order Celastrales...
. Members of the genus are distributed throughout Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, Micronesia
Micronesia
Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....
and Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
, the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. They grow in a very wide variety of climates, from tropical to subpolar.
Selected species
- Maytenus abbottiiMaytenus abbottiiMaytenus abbottii is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to South Africa. It is threatened by habitat loss.This is a small gregarious tree favouring moist places such as stream banks in coastal lowland forest. There is a small population on the KwaZulu-Natal/Eastern Cape...
A.E.van Wyk - Maytenus acuminataMaytenus acuminataMaytenus acuminata is a variable, medium-sized, evergreen tree indigenous to Africa, including South Africa. Here it is especially common on the verges of afro-montane forest. It produces small, white flowers and bright orange or red berries. In cultivation it is useful as a light shade tree or as...
(L.f.) Loes. - Maytenus addatMaytenus addatMaytenus addat is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to the Afromontane forests, especially along forest margins, of Ethiopia.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(Loes.Ludwig Eduard Theodor LoesenerLudwig Eduard Theodor Loesener was a German botanist.Collection of specimens in Europe: Amrum Islands , Alps, Black Forest, Bavaria, Tyrol, Rugen. Herbarium 14 Aquifoliaceae & cult. Ilex spp.-Abbreviation:...
) Sebsebe - Maytenus aquifoliaMaytenus aquifoliaMaytenus aquifolia, the Espinheira-santa, is an endemic tree species from the Atlantic Forest Biome in Brazil, occurring in the regions Sudeste and Sul . It is a medicinal species, being used for treating ulcers and gastritis...
Mart. - Maytenus bilocularis (F.Muell.) Loes. – Orangebark
- Maytenus boariaMaytenus boariaMaytenus boaria is an evergreen tree of the family Celastraceae, native from South America, up to 20 m , 80 cm diameter , straight trunk. It occurs naturally approximately from 30 to 50ºS: Chile and Argentina.-Description:...
MolinaJuan Ignacio MolinaFr. Juan Ignacio Molina was a Chilean Jesuit priest, naturalist, historian, botanist, ornithologist and geographer... - Maytenus canariensisMaytenus canariensisMaytenus canariensis is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is a Conservation dependent tree endemic to Spain.-Source:* Bañares, A. et al. 1998. .* - Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(Loes.) G. Kunkel & Sunding - Maytenus clarendonensisMaytenus clarendonensisMaytenus clarendonensis is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to Jamaica.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
BrittonNathaniel Lord BrittonNathaniel Lord Britton was an American botanist and taxonomist who founded the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York. Britton was born in New Dorp in Staten Island, New York... - Maytenus crassipesMaytenus crassipesMaytenus crassipes is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to Jamaica.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Urb.Ignatz UrbanIgnatz Urban was a German botanist. He is known for his contributions to the flora of the Caribbean and Brazil, and for his work as curator of the Berlin Botanical Garden. Born the son of a brewer, Urban showed an interest in botany as an undergraduate... - Maytenus cunninghamii (Hook.) Loes. – Koonkara
- Maytenus curtissiiMaytenus curtissiiMaytenus curtissii is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is found in Malaysia and Thailand. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Chua, L.S.L. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
(KingGeorge King (botanist)Sir George King , was a British botanist appointed superintendent of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta in 1871, and the first Director of the Botanical Survey of India from 1890. King was awarded the Linnean Medal in 1901....
) Ding Hou - Maytenus cymosaMaytenus cymosaMaytenus cymosa is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is found in Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.-Source:...
Krug & Urban – Caribbean Mayten - Maytenus dhofarensisMaytenus dhofarensisMaytenus dhofarensis is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is found in Oman and Yemen. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Ghazanfar, S.A. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Sebsebe - Maytenus disperma (F.Muell.) Loes.
- Maytenus eggersiiMaytenus eggersiiMaytenus eggersii is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is a tree endemic to Ecuador. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Pitman, N. & Suin, L. 2003. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Loes. - Maytenus elongata (Urban) Britt. – Puerto Rico Mayten
- Maytenus fasciculiflora Jessup
- Maytenus ferdinandi Jessup
- Maytenus harenensisMaytenus harenensisMaytenus harenensis is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to the Harenna Forest in Ethiopia, a remant Afromontane forest in the Bale Mountains. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
Sebsebe - Maytenus harrisiiMaytenus harrisiiMaytenus harrisii is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to Jamaica.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Krug & Urb. - Maytenus hookeri Loes.
- Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek
- Maytenus jamesoniiMaytenus jamesoniiMaytenus jamesonii is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is a tree endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
Briq. - Maytenus jefeanaMaytenus jefeanaMaytenus jefeana is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to Panama. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Mitré, M. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Lundell - Maytenus krukovii A.C.Sm.
- Maytenus laevigata (Vahl) Griseb. ex Eggers – White Cinnamon
- Maytenus laevis Reissek
- Maytenus lucidus
- Maytenus macrocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Briq.
- Maytenus magellanicaMaytenus magellanicaMaytenus magellanica, is a small evergreen tree from the genus Maytenus, up to 5 meters , in the Celastraceae...
(Lam.Jean-Baptiste LamarckJean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de la Marck , often known simply as Lamarck, was a French naturalist...
) Hook.f. - Maytenus manabiensisMaytenus manabiensisMaytenus manabiensis is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is a tree endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
Loes. - Maytenus matudaiMaytenus matudaiMaytenus matudai is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to Mexico.-Source:* González-Espinosa, M. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Lundell - Maytenus microcarpaMaytenus microcarpaMaytenus microcarpa is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to Jamaica.-Source:* Kelly, D.L. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Fawc. & RendleAlfred Barton RendleAlfred Barton Rendle FRS was an English botanist.Rendle was born in Lewisham and studied at St John's College, Cambridge... - Maytenus obtusifolia
- Maytenus oleoidesMaytenus oleoidesMaytenus oleoides is a dense, medium-sized tree that grows throughout the western half of South Africa....
Loes. - Maytenus oleosaMaytenus oleosaMaytenus oleosa is a rare, willow-like, small tree in the Celastraceae family which is limited in habitat to lowland forests along the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape coasts, particularly where there are streams or rivers. It is commonly associated with Gymnosporia bachmannii...
A.E.van Wyk & R.H.Archer - Maytenus ponceanaMaytenus ponceanaMaytenus ponceana is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to Puerto Rico.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Britt.Nathaniel Lord BrittonNathaniel Lord Britton was an American botanist and taxonomist who founded the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York. Britton was born in New Dorp in Staten Island, New York... - Maytenus phyllanthoides Benth. – Florida Mayten, Guttapercha Mayten
- Maytenus procumbens (L.f.) Loes.
- Maytenus quadrangulata (Schrad.) Loes.
- Maytenus reynosioides Urb.
- Maytenus silvestrisMaytenus silvestrisMaytenus silvestris is a shrub or small tree growing from Picton, New South Wales near Kroombit Tops, near Gladstone, Queensland . It occurs in dry rainforest, eucalyptus and rainforest ecotone areas...
Lander & L.A.S.Johnson – Narrow-leaved Orangebark, Orange Bark, Orange Bush - Maytenus sp. nov. AMaytenus sp. nov. AMaytenus sp. nov. A is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to Yemen. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and rocky areas.-Source:* Miller, A. 2004. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Miller (Yemen) - Maytenus stipitataMaytenus stipitataMaytenus stipitata is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is a tree endemic to Mexico.-Source:* González-Espinosa, M. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
Lundell - Maytenus undata (Thunb.) Blakelock
- Maytenus vitis-idaea – Indian's Salt
- Maytenus williamsiiMaytenus williamsiiMaytenus williamsii is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. It is endemic to Honduras.-Source:* Nelson, C. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
A.Molina
Formerly placed here
- Gymnosporia diversifolia Maxim. (as M. diversifolia (Maxim.) Ding Hou)
- Gymnosporia heterophyllaGymnosporia heterophyllaGymnosporia heterophylla is a small, hardy, deciduous African tree up to 5m tall, occurring in rocky places with a wide distribution from Ethiopia, the Sudan and the Congo, south to the Cape Province and west to Angola and Namibia, as well as the neighbouring islands of Madagascar and Saint...
(Eckl. & Zeyh.) Loes. (as M. heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) N. Robson) - Gymnosporia rothiana (Walp.) Wight & Arn. ex M.A.Lawson (as M. rothiana (Walp.) Lobr.-Callen)
- Gymnosporia royleana Wall. ex M.A.Lawson (as M. royleana (Wall. ex M. A. Lawson) Cufod.)
- Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes. (as M. senegalensis (Lam.) Exell)
- Gymnosporia thomsonii Kurz (as M. thomsonii (Kurz) V.S.Raju & Babu)
Cultivation and uses
M. boariaMaytenus boaria
Maytenus boaria is an evergreen tree of the family Celastraceae, native from South America, up to 20 m , 80 cm diameter , straight trunk. It occurs naturally approximately from 30 to 50ºS: Chile and Argentina.-Description:...
and M. magellanica
Maytenus magellanica
Maytenus magellanica, is a small evergreen tree from the genus Maytenus, up to 5 meters , in the Celastraceae...
are the most known species in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
because these are the most cold-tolerant trees of this mostly tropical
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
genus. Maytenus ebenifola is added to some versions of the hallucinogenic drink Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca
Ayahuasca is any of various psychoactive infusions or decoctions prepared from the Banisteriopsis spp. vine, usually mixed with the leaves of dimethyltryptamine-containing species of shrubs from the Psychotria genus...
.