Ilex theezans
Encyclopedia
Ilex theezans, also I. theæzans and I. theazans, is a species of the Ilex genus in the Aquifoliaceae family, native to Brazil
and typically found amid its Atlantic Forest vegetation
. It is sometimes used as an adulterant of maté
and sometimes confused with the yerba maté
(I. paraguarensis.) In Brazil, it is sometimes called orelha-de-mico; but is more often simply known as congonha ("holly") or caúna (along with I. dumosa.
The species
includes the subspecies
I. theezans hieronymiana; the varieties I. theezans var. acrodonta, augusti, fertilis, gracilior, grandifolia, leptopylla, pachypylla, typica, and warmingiana; and the forms I. theezans f. glabra and puberula.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and typically found amid its Atlantic Forest vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
. It is sometimes used as an adulterant of maté
Maté
Maté may refer to:* Yerba maté - species of holly native to subtropical South America* Mate - infusion, containing stimulants including caffeine, prepared by steeping dried leaves of yerba mate...
and sometimes confused with the yerba maté
Yerba mate
Maté, yerba maté or erva maté , Ilex paraguariensis, is a species of holly native to subtropical South America in northeastern Argentina, Bolivia, southern Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay...
(I. paraguarensis.) In Brazil, it is sometimes called orelha-de-mico; but is more often simply known as congonha ("holly") or caúna (along with I. dumosa.
The species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
includes the subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
I. theezans hieronymiana; the varieties I. theezans var. acrodonta, augusti, fertilis, gracilior, grandifolia, leptopylla, pachypylla, typica, and warmingiana; and the forms I. theezans f. glabra and puberula.