Ilex paraguariensis: A tree that offers us large leaves

tree planted in garden with large green leaves

The Ilex paraguariensis widely known in some Latin American countries as yerba mate, it is a very popular kind of tree in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, and it has some very interesting uses. In case you still don’t know much or anything about this species of grass that belongs to the Aquifoliaceae family, here we will show you much of the information you will need.

So that you not only know where this and some general information about yerba mate can be found, but you can also know its characteristics, the type of cultivation that is given to the species and other relevant data. Just stay and read to the end.

General data

leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis tree or yerba mate

As you could already see, the scientific name that this tree receives is that of Ilex paraguariensisbut in a vulgar or common way, It is well known under the name of Yerba Mate or Yerba del Paraguay.

The plant was formerly used for medicinal purposes by Guarani tribes. It is a species that is native to the Paranaense jungle, which It grows wild in the Highlands of Uruguay, the Highlands of Panama, and much of Paraguay.

Today it is one of the many herbs that is widely sold in the most important markets of the world. Everything is thanks to its multiple uses and above all, its beneficial properties for human consumption.

So that It is very common to see plantations dedicated to sowing and cultivating this herb. But it also has the ability to grow wild without any complications, and can grow up to 15 meters tall. Very different from the height that is achieved in controlled plantations, which usually grow to a maximum of 11 cm long with a branched trunk.

At a general and production level, the Ilex paraguariensis it is massively distributed and cultivated in Argentina. It is the main producer and exporter of Yerba Mate in all of Latin America and possibly the whole world and followed by Argentina is Brazil and Paraguay.

Features Ilex paraguariensis

You already know the most general aspects of this tree, It is time for you to know some of its characteristics that make it one of the most valued herbs of the current market.

Thus, it is a species that it is characterized by having evergreen leaves. So the leaves when they wither do not usually fall during the fall. The plant has the peculiarity of having leaves that last up to 3 years until they fall off and grow back. As for the shape of the branches of this tree and when it begins to gain height, tend to have a right anglewhich makes the tree look like a dwarfed crown.

In case you are wondering if it is a plant capable of generating flowers, the answer is yes. These have a whitish appearance and their flowering occurs between October and November. On the other hand, the maturation of the fruit of the mate herb occurs between the months of January and March.

In a natural way, as already said, it is a plant capable of reaching between 10 and 15 meters. Although specimens have been found that have exceeded this height, achieving a maximum length of 30 meters.

On the other hand, when the plant is under cultivation, the dimensions or the size of yerba mate is usually a few centimeters or metersaccording to the requirements. Everything will depend and will depend on how easy it is to manage each plant separately.

Cultivation and care

Moving on to what would become the cultivation and the care that the plant requires so that it can fully develop, There are some key aspects that you should know and that we will tell you next.

The first one is the temperature that the plant needs, since the room temperature has to be warm. That is, it must be above 19 ° C and have a fairly high humidity in the environment where it is planted.

In flowering times, this plant requires a lot of water but not too much, to the point of causing flooding. The good thing is that it can grow and tolerate semi-shady places and an important fact for some is that it has good resistance to cold.

As for the soil that you must provide to this species, you must be a land rich in mineralswhich are the nutrients that the plant needs for its development. In the same sense, it can grow in places with clayey, sandy characteristics or that have slight amounts of acidity.

A fact that will be very helpful if you want to start growing this herb, is that you must protect it from the rain whenever you are in areas whose environment resembles the subtropical region of Argentina.

Another important aspect regarding the care and cultivation of yerba mate is that it should be reduced as much as possible to using pruning tools and plant manipulation. This surprisingly encourages the growth of the species.

Uses

Consuming yerba mate is incredibly beneficial for the person and all thanks to the fact that it has good amounts of antioxidants, vitamins and moremakes it a useful plant to have in any garden. Some of the uses and benefits that can be obtained from this plant are:

Infusions with its leaves

person drinking yerba mate infusion

Prepare infusions with the leaves of this plant is the most practical and common way to take advantage of its benefits. The species itself is a rich source of antioxidants, which translates to a significant boost in the body’s immune system and defenses, not to mention helping to prevent damage at the cellular level.

As a vitamin supplement

The human body you need about 13 vitamins to be in an optimal and functional state. Consume Ilex paraguariensis It involves getting the benefits of the full range of B vitamins, which provide energy and red blood cell production in the body.

Natural energizer

It happens a lot that a natural way to obtain energy is sought either in drink or through food consumption. This is not a problem for yerba matesince it is a rich source of caffeine, theobromine and theophylline.

This means that both the body and the brain will have the necessary energy levels to function, but be careful with this plant if you have cats or dogs in your house. Given that has caffeine, theobromine and theophyllineis harmful and potentially dangerous for these and other animals.

Prevents the increase in bad cholesterol

You could say that this is the holy grail of people who suffer from bad cholesterolWhether they have no way to control it due to lack of money and medicines or for any other reason, one way to lower bad cholesterol is with the intake of this plant.

Ilex paraguariensis: A tree that offers us large leaves

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