guayusa

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• guayusa

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ilex utilis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Aquifoliales, falling into the family Aquifoliaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Ilex.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the diverse landscapes of Northern and Western South America. In the northern region, it can be found growing within the borders of Venezuela. Its range extends into Western South America, where it is commonly located in Colombia and Ecuador. Furthermore, the species is widely distributed throughout the territories of Peru. Finally, the geographical reach of this medicinal plant also includes the nation of Bolivia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ilex guayusa is characterized by its adaptation to a diverse altitudinal gradient within montane ecosystems, where it thrives across a significant vertical span. This species is found inhabiting environments ranging from a minimum elevation of 200 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 2000 m AMSL. This broad elevational range allows the plant to occupy various ecological niches, spanning from lower tropical foothills to higher montane forest zones, where it must contend with varying levels of humidity, temperature fluctuations, and light availability typical of these transitional altitudes.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Ilex guayusa is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 14 meters. It functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and maintains a terrestrial existence rather than being aquatic or semiaquatic. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte, but grows directly in the soil. Furthermore, the plant is a self-supporting structure, meaning it does not possess the climbing habits of a liana, vine, or facultative/obligatory climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

14 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ilex guayusa has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Terpenes, caffeine.

Terpenes

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

caffeine

1. Ciba Foundation symposium

Activities

Ilex guayusa has 5 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Phytohormonal, Psychoactive.

Analgesic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Phytohormonal

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Psychoactive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Ilex guayusa has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diabetes mellitus, hyperphagia, polydipsia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations