Chapter 2
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 fourcountry 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.
Keywords Aquifoliaceae · Fingerprinting · Ilex argentina · Ilex paraguariensis ·
Plant · South America · Yerba mate
2.1 The Botanical Classification of Yerba Mate: A General
Introduction
The classification of Ilex paraguariensis, generally named yerba mate or mate
(Botanical-Online 2019; Kim et al. 2010) 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:
(a) The quality of yerba mate is strongly dependent on the original plant or
mixtures of different I. paraguariensis cultivated plants. Because of the
possible mixture option, it has to be noted that the distinction between authentic
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Iommi, Chemistry and Safety of South American Yerba Mate Teas,
Chemistry of Foods, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69614-6_2
35
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 fourcountry 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.
Keywords Aquifoliaceae · Fingerprinting · Ilex argentina · Ilex paraguariensis ·
Plant · South America · Yerba mate
2.1 The Botanical Classification of Yerba Mate: A General
Introduction
The classification of Ilex paraguariensis, generally named yerba mate or mate
(Botanical-Online 2019; Kim et al. 2010) 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:
(a) The quality of yerba mate is strongly dependent on the original plant or
mixtures of different I. paraguariensis cultivated plants. Because of the
possible mixture option, it has to be noted that the distinction between authentic
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Iommi, Chemistry and Safety of South American Yerba Mate Teas,
Chemistry of Foods, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69614-6_2
35