Ilex vomitoria
Ilex vomitoria, commonly known as Yaupon holly, is a significant medicinal plant native to the southeastern United States. Renowned for its high caffeine content, its leaves have been traditionally used to create stimulating teas. This versatile shrub offers both nutritional benefits and historical importance in indigenous herbal practices.
- Scientific name: Ilex vomitoria
- Family: Aquifoliaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Aquifoliales and the family Aquifoliaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Ilex.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Aquifoliales | WCVP |
| Family | Aquifoliaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Ilex | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the United States. In the North-Central U.S.A., it can be found within the state of Oklahoma. Its range extends into the South-Central U.S.A., where it is located in Texas. Moving toward the Southeastern U.S.A., the species is present in Alabama and Arkansas. Finally, it is also documented as growing in Florida.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| North-Central U.S.A. | Oklahoma | WCVP |
| South-Central U.S.A. | Texas | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Alabama | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Arkansas | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Florida | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Georgia | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Louisiana | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Mississippi | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | North Carolina | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | South Carolina | WCVP |
Chemicals
Ilex vomitoria has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include caffeine, theacrine.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| caffeine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| theacrine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |