Maytenus boaria

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across several different regions. In North America, its distribution includes the state of California within the Southwestern U.S.A. Moving into Western South America, it can be found in Bolivia. The species is also prevalent in Brazil, specifically within the Southeast and South regions. Finally, its reach extends to the Northeast of Argentina in Southern South America.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Maytenus boaria is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to high-altitude environments reaching 4000 m AMSL. This species exhibits significant ecological plasticity, allowing it to colonize a diverse array of distinct habitats. It is commonly found in specialized environments such as Campo de Altitude and Campo Limpo, as well as within various forest formations including Floresta Ciliar or Galeria, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, and Floresta Ombrófila Mista. This wide range of habitats suggests an ability to adapt to varying moisture regimes and light availability across different Brazilian biomes.

Elevational range max:

4000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo de Altitude, Campo Limpo, Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila Mista

Life history

The life history of Maytenus boaria is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a phanerophyte, specifically categorized under both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte classifications, which indicates that its buds are borne on aerial shoots well above the ground level. Furthermore, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Maytenus boaria is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or vine. It is a terrestrial species, existing as an independent organism without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of approximately 10 m, with a maximum potential height of up to 15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Maytenus boaria is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its environmental niche. The plant's vegetative morphology is defined by relatively consistent leaf dimensions, exhibiting a uniform leaf width of 1.4 cm, with no deviation between the minimum, mean, and maximum recorded values. The leaf length reaches a maximum of 4 cm, providing a specific surface area optimized for light interception under its C3 metabolic constraints. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogen from the soil through its root system.

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Maytenus boaria involves both sexual and asexual processes, with asexual reproduction being present in the species. The sexual reproductive cycle is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits, which have a mean width of 0.5 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit highly consistent morphological dimensions, maintaining a mean seed length of 4.8 mm (with both minimum and maximum values recorded at 4.8 mm) and a mean seed width of 2.5 mm (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 2.5 mm). The seed volume is remarkably uniform, with a mean, minimum, and maximum value all recorded at 16 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds are relatively lightweight, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.016026667 g, with individual seed weights fluctuating slightly between a minimum of 0.01468 g and a maximum of 0.01695 g.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit width mean:

0.5 cm

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed length mean:

4.8 mm

Seed mass max:

0.01695 g

Seed mass mean:

0.016026667 g

Seed mass min:

0.01468 g

Seed volume max:

16 mm³

Seed width mean:

2.5 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Maytenus boaria has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Maytenus boaria has 12 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include AntiHIV, Anticarcinomic, Antifeedant, Antiflu, Antiinflammatory.

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke

Aphidifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke

Hypolipemic

1. Dr. Duke