Botanic Features of Ilex paraguariensis

Abstract

The classification of Ilex paraguariensis, generally named yerba mate from the botanical viewpoint, is of critical importance because of the need to distinguish this plant from other vegetables of the same family. The botanical subdivision is helpful because of three main factors: the quality of yerba mate; commercial features of available yerba mate products; and the possible addition of Ilex-related non-yerba mate plants as the signal of food adulteration. I. paraguariensis belongs to the Aquifoliaceae family, and its natural habitat comprehends regional area of four South American countries: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This four-country area is peculiar with concern to yerba mate because this plant is a subtropical dioecious evergreen tree, normally growing in mountainous areas and requiring at least 1200 mm of yearly rainfall. From the botanical viewpoint, this plant needs high aluminium contents, acidic soils, low phosphorus, and abundance of bioavailable organic materials. The taxonomic classification of Ilex species may be correlated with chemometrics and fingerprinting methods, demonstrating the interest in the preservation of preserving quality and authenticity of real yerba mate. The historical confusion between I. paraguariensis and I. argentina (a native Bolivian plant) can be a useful example.