36
2 Botanic Features of Ilex paraguariensis
yerba mate and Ilex-related non-yerba mate plants is critical when speaking of
quality (of the final product).
(b) The quality of commercially available yerba mate products can vary enough
because of the existence of eight types: premium; nativa; traditional; moida
grossa; exportação; tererê; tostada; and cambona (Sect. 1.4.1). These typologies depend on several factors: processing options, national or regional origin,
possible genetic variations (the cambona type). The possible addition of
Ilex-related non-yerba mate plants could complicate the situation.
(c) Finally, the addition of Ilex-related non-yerba mate plants is a clear food
adulteration.
Ilex paraguariensis belongs to the Aquifoliaceae (holy plants, more than 600
species) family. Its natural habitat comprehends the following South American countries (Fig. 1.3): Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, taking into account that
only some areas are interested in this ambit (Uruguay is completely interested). In
detail, the regional areas of interest are known as follows, with the exception of
Uruguay (Heck and De Mejia 2007; Matta 2019):
(a) Brazil: Mato Grosso do Sul; Minas Gerais; Paraná; Rio Grande do Sul; Rio
de Janeiro; Santa Catarina; Sao Paulo
(b) Argentina: Corrientes; Misiones
(c) Paraguay: Alto Parana; Amambay; Caaguazu; Canendeyu; Central; Guaira;
Itapua; Misiones; San Pedro.
More exactly, the reported boundaries of this four-state area are (Croge et al.
2020):
(a) Latitudes, 21°00
00
S, 30°00
00
S
(b) Longitudes, 48°30
00
W, 56°10
00
W.
The natural habitat of I. paraguariensis depends on its nature: this plant is a
subtropical dioecious evergreen tree (with male and female trees, being the male
plants more productive than female ones) (Botanical-Online 2019; Kim et al. 2010),
normally growing in mountainous areas. As a result, it is not naturally found in the
northern or southern areas of South America for climatic reasons, requiring at least
1,200 mm of yearly rainfall, possibly with a constant distribution during the year. In
addition, it can grow well at 21–22 °C, but the resistance to extreme temperatures
such as—6 °C and possible snowfalls, is a distinctive advantage (Heck and De Mejia
2007; Matta 2019).
From the botanical viewpoint, it should be noted that I. paraguariensis can arrive
to 15 m, with peculiar leaves (bright-green colour, alternate or oval shape, length:
5–18 cm; width: 7.2 cm). It flourishes from October to November, and related fruits
(dark-to-red drupes, 4–6 mm) are produced in the March–June period.
It can be also noted that South American Ilex species and I. paraguariensis, in
particular, are endemic and exclusively distributed in wild forested mountains, as
an association of ombrophilous plants, in association with Araucaria angustifolia.
These plants need also high aluminium contents, acidic soils, low phosphorus, and
abundance of bioavailable organic materials (Croge et al. 2020).
2 Botanic Features of Ilex paraguariensis
yerba mate and Ilex-related non-yerba mate plants is critical when speaking of
quality (of the final product).
(b) The quality of commercially available yerba mate products can vary enough
because of the existence of eight types: premium; nativa; traditional; moida
grossa; exportação; tererê; tostada; and cambona (Sect. 1.4.1). These typologies depend on several factors: processing options, national or regional origin,
possible genetic variations (the cambona type). The possible addition of
Ilex-related non-yerba mate plants could complicate the situation.
(c) Finally, the addition of Ilex-related non-yerba mate plants is a clear food
adulteration.
Ilex paraguariensis belongs to the Aquifoliaceae (holy plants, more than 600
species) family. Its natural habitat comprehends the following South American countries (Fig. 1.3): Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, taking into account that
only some areas are interested in this ambit (Uruguay is completely interested). In
detail, the regional areas of interest are known as follows, with the exception of
Uruguay (Heck and De Mejia 2007; Matta 2019):
(a) Brazil: Mato Grosso do Sul; Minas Gerais; Paraná; Rio Grande do Sul; Rio
de Janeiro; Santa Catarina; Sao Paulo
(b) Argentina: Corrientes; Misiones
(c) Paraguay: Alto Parana; Amambay; Caaguazu; Canendeyu; Central; Guaira;
Itapua; Misiones; San Pedro.
More exactly, the reported boundaries of this four-state area are (Croge et al.
2020):
(a) Latitudes, 21°00
00
S, 30°00
00
S
(b) Longitudes, 48°30
00
W, 56°10
00
W.
The natural habitat of I. paraguariensis depends on its nature: this plant is a
subtropical dioecious evergreen tree (with male and female trees, being the male
plants more productive than female ones) (Botanical-Online 2019; Kim et al. 2010),
normally growing in mountainous areas. As a result, it is not naturally found in the
northern or southern areas of South America for climatic reasons, requiring at least
1,200 mm of yearly rainfall, possibly with a constant distribution during the year. In
addition, it can grow well at 21–22 °C, but the resistance to extreme temperatures
such as—6 °C and possible snowfalls, is a distinctive advantage (Heck and De Mejia
2007; Matta 2019).
From the botanical viewpoint, it should be noted that I. paraguariensis can arrive
to 15 m, with peculiar leaves (bright-green colour, alternate or oval shape, length:
5–18 cm; width: 7.2 cm). It flourishes from October to November, and related fruits
(dark-to-red drupes, 4–6 mm) are produced in the March–June period.
It can be also noted that South American Ilex species and I. paraguariensis, in
particular, are endemic and exclusively distributed in wild forested mountains, as
an association of ombrophilous plants, in association with Araucaria angustifolia.
These plants need also high aluminium contents, acidic soils, low phosphorus, and
abundance of bioavailable organic materials (Croge et al. 2020).