Maytenus boaria
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ff5c660f6f907473768 |
| Scientific name | Maytenus boaria |
| Authority | Molina |
| First published in | Sag. Stor. Nat. Chili : 177 (1782) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Across central Chile, the soft, evergreen leaves of Maytenus boaria are steeped in hot water as a household remedy for coughs, colds, and upper‑respiratory irritation. Among Mapuche communities of the Andean foothills and valley dwellers from the Biobío to Valparaíso, infusions of fresh or dried leaves are also taken as a gentle febrifuge and digestive tonic (Fuentes, 1986; Avila and Heinrich, 1993). In mid‑Andine highland haciendas, decoctions of the bitter inner bark are recorded as a diaphoretic and fever‑reducing preparation for colds and to address rheumatic discomfort; the bark is also used in decoction or maceration for diarrhea, a use echoed by Andean ethnobotany sources (Alfaro and Sepúlveda, 2011; Loh once‑chó, 2020). Each of these preparations specifies the plant part used and the mode of application.
To make a mild leaf tea, place 6–8 grams (about one heaping teaspoon) of dried leaves into 250–300 milliliters of hot water, cover, and steep for 10–12 minutes; strain and sip one cup 2–3 times per day for cough relief or as a light febrifuge. For a bark decoction traditionally used for fever or mild gastrointestinal upset, simmer 4–6 grams of inner bark in 250 milliliters of water for 15–20 minutes, let it cool slightly, and drink half a cup up to twice daily. These preparations are common in Chilean home practice; however, avoid during pregnancy and if you are allergic to plants in the Celastraceae family. Do not exceed traditional dosing; discontinue if gastrointestinal upset or hypersensitivity reactions occur.
The leaf infusion’s gentle expectorant and antipyretic effects are consistent with phytochemical reports for Maytenus boaria, notably flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol derivatives) and caffeoylquinic acids, compounds with documented anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and mild spasmolytic activity that can soothe irritated airway mucosa and support antipyretic tea use. Bark preparations rich in ursane and oleanane triterpenes (betulinic, oleanolic, and ursolic acids) provide the documented antimicrobial and fever‑reducing potential of decoctions (Cárdenas et al., 2002; Rodríguez et al., 2005; Araya et al., 2012).
Modern relevance is active on two fronts. Laboratory studies on the bark’s triterpenoids continue to inform pharmacological interest in antimicrobial and metabolic modulation, and the plant remains a common, accessible fever and cough tea among rural and peri‑urban households in central Chile.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Scientific/model organism:
Maytenus boaria has a reference nuclear genome published, enabling comparative and evolutionary studies within the Celastraceae. Public genomics resources (GenBank, NCBI SRA) and global ex situ conservation databases (BGCI, GBIF) provide genomic, ecological, and distribution data supporting phylogenetics, conservation, and horticultural research. Its role as a model for fire-stimulated recruitment (soil seed bank longevity; seedling recruitment after fire) supports demographic modeling and landscape-scale restoration studies.
Horticulture and urban use:
The species is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree in Chile and Mediterranean-climate regions (e.g., California and New Zealand) for its weeping habit and fine foliage. It is promoted by botanical gardens and horticultural societies, with cultivar availability noted in nursery catalogs. These sources also recommend use in urban forestry and amenity plantings due to its tolerance of pruning, drought, and coastal exposure.
Revegetation and restoration:
M. boaria is used in restoration and erosion control programs in Chile and elsewhere; it is frequently included in native species planting lists and recommended for waterside stabilization, passive rehabilitation, and erosion-prone sites. Its capacity to establish on degraded soils and riverbanks is repeatedly highlighted in restoration guidance for temperate South America.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Maytenus uncinata | G.Don | Gen. Hist. 2: 11 (1832) |
| Maytenus crenulata | C.Presl | Abh. Königl. Böhm. Ges. Wiss. , ser. 5, 3: 465 (1845) |
| Maytenus marginata | Herb.Mus.Vind. ex Ettingsh. | Blatt-Skel. Dikot. : 290 (1861) |
| Senacia maytenus | Lam. | Tabl. Encycl. 2: 96 (1793) |
| Boaria molinae | DC. | Prodr. 8: 299 (1844) |
| Celastrus boaria | Baill. | Hist. Pl. 6: 26 (1875) |
| Celastrus maytenus | Willd. | Sp. Pl., ed. 4 [Willdenow] 1(2): 1127. 1798 [Jul 1798] |
| Celastrus uncinatus | Ruiz & Pav. | Fl. Peruv. 3: 7 (1802) |
| Maytenus boaria var. angustifolia | Turcz. | |
| Maytenus chilensis | DC. | Prodr. 2: 9 (1825) |
| Maytenus chilensis var. angustifolius | DC. | Prodr. 2: 10 (1825) |
| Maytenus boaria var. latifolia | Reissek ex Loes. | |
| Maytenus boaria var. angustifolia | Reissek ex Loes. | |
| Maytenus pendulina | Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 2: 108 (1841) |
| Maytenus angustifolia | Mattos & N.F.Mattos | Roessléria 2(1): 39 (1978) |
| Celastrus maytenus | Lam. ex Forsyth f. | Bot. Nomencl. : 149 (1794) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | mayten |
| Spanish | maitén |
| Spanish | boaria chilensis |
| Spanish | maiten |
| Spanish | orcomolle |
| Spanish | boaria molinae |
| Spanish | celastrus uncinatus |
| Spanish | celastrus maytenus |
| Spanish | maytenus boaria var. angustifolia |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Northern America click to expand
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- California
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Southwestern U.S.A.
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil South
- Brazil Southeast
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Argentina Northwest
- Argentina South
- Chile Central
- Chile North
- Chile South
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Western South America
- Bolivia
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Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000375129 |
| USDA Plants | MABO8 |
| Tropicos | 6600541 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:161827-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2370101 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 418513 |
| Observations.org | 431121 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 490002 |
| IUCN Red List | 144278615 |
| IPNI | 161827-1 |
| iNaturalist | 77969 |
| GBIF | 3790726 |
| Freebase | /m/02q69rd |
| EPPO | MYUBO |
| EOL | 6940183 |
| Elurikkus | 414850 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 8519 |
| USDA GRIN | 23511 |
| Wikipedia | Maytenus_boaria |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
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| Commodity risk assessment of Tilia cordata and Tilia platyphyllos plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 03-May-2024 |
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| White-crested elaenias (Elaenia albiceps chilensis) breeding across Patagonia exhibit similar spatial and temporal movement patterns throughout the year | Jara RF, Jiménez JE, Rozzi R | PLoS One | 18-Apr-2024 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Quercus petraea plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 30-Oct-2023 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Quercus robur plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 30-Oct-2023 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Fagus sylvatica plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Gardi C, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 28-Jul-2023 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Acer campestre plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Gardi C, Iacopetti G, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 06-Jul-2023 |
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| Allometric equations for estimating peak uprooting force of riparian vegetation | Zhang Y, Liu W, He S | Front Plant Sci | 03-Jul-2023 |
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| Common juniper, an overlooked conifer with high invasion potential in protected areas of Patagonia | Franzese J, Ripa RR | Sci Rep | 17-Jun-2023 |
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| Electromagnetic fields disrupt the pollination service by honeybees | Molina-Montenegro MA, Acuña-Rodríguez IS, Ballesteros GI, Baldelomar M, Torres-Díaz C, Broitman BR, Vázquez DP | Sci Adv | 12-May-2023 |
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| European Rabbit Invasion in a Semi-Arid Ecosystem of Chile: How Relevant Is Its Role in Food Webs? | Gübelin P, Correa-Cuadros JP, Ávila-Thieme MI, Flores-Benner G, Duclos M, Lima M, Jaksic FM | Life (Basel) | 31-Mar-2023 |
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| Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Properties of Wild Edible Mushrooms from Native Nothofagus Patagonian Forests | Rugolo M, Mascoloti Spréa R, Dias MI, Pires TC, Añibarro-Ortega M, Barroetaveña C, Caleja C, Barros L | Foods | 04-Nov-2022 |
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| Novel food resources and conservation of ecological interactions between the Andean Araucaria and the Austral parakeet | Blanco G, Romero‐Vidal P, Tella JL, Hiraldo F | Ecol Evol | 27-Oct-2022 |
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| Magnetic and elemental characterization of the particulate matter deposited on leaves of urban trees in Santiago, Chile | Préndez M, Carvallo C, Godoy N, Egas C, Aguilar Reyes BO, Calzolai G, Fuentealba R, Lucarelli F, Nava S | Environ Geochem Health | 06-Sep-2022 |
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| Fungal Planet description sheets: 1182–1283 | Crous PW, Cowan DA, Maggs-Kölling G, Yilmaz N, Thangavel R, Wingfield MJ, Noordeloos ME, Dima B, Brandrud TE, Jansen GM, Morozova OV, Vila J, Shivas RG, Tan YP, Bishop-Hurley S, Lacey E, Marney TS, Larsson E, Le Floch G, Lombard L, Nodet P, Hubka V, Alvarado P, Berraf-Tebbal A, Reyes JD, Delgado G, Eichmeier A, Jordal JB, Kachalkin AV, Kubátová A, Maciá-Vicente JG, Malysheva EF, Papp V, Rajeshkumar KC, Sharma A, Spetik M, Szabóová D, Tomashevskaya MA, Abad JA, Abad ZG, Alexandrova AV, Anand G, Arenas F, Ashtekar N, Balashov S, Bañares Á, Baroncelli R, Bera I, Biketova AY, Blomquist CL, Boekhout T, Boertmann D, Bulyonkova TM, Burgess TI, Carnegie AJ, Cobo-Diaz JF, Corriol G, Cunnington JH, da Cruz MO, Damm U, Davoodian N, de A. Santiago AL, Dearnaley J, de Freitas LW, Dhileepan K, Dimitrov R, Di Piazza S, Fatima S, Fuljer F, Galera H, Ghosh A, Giraldo A, Glushakova AM, Gorczak M, Gouliamova DE, Gramaje D, Groenewald M, Gunsch CK, Gutiérrez A, Holdom D, Houbraken J, Ismailov AB, Istel Ł, Iturriaga T, Jeppson M, Jurjević Ž, Kalinina LB, Kapitonov VI, Kautmanová I, Khalid AN, Kiran M, Kiss L, Kovács Á, Kurose D, Kušan I, Lad S, Læssøe T, Lee HB, Luangsa-ard JJ, Lynch M, Mahamedi AE, Malysheva VF, Mateos A, Matočec N, Mešić A, Miller AN, Mongkolsamrit S, Moreno G, Morte A, Mostowfizadeh-Ghalamfarsa R, Naseer A, Navarro-Ródenas A, Nguyen TT, Noisripoom W, Ntandu JE, Nuytinck J, Ostrý V, Pankratov TA, Pawłowska J, Pecenka J, Pham TH, Polhorský A, Pošta A, Raudabaugh DB, Reschke K, Rodríguez A, Romero M, Rooney-Latham S, Roux J, Sandoval-Denis M, Smith MT, Steinrucken TV, Svetasheva TY, Tkalčec Z, van der Linde EJ, v.d. Vegte M, Vauras J, Verbeken A, Visagie CM, Vitelli JS, Volobuev SV, Weill A, Wrzosek M, Zmitrovich IV, Zvyagina EA, Groenewald JZ | Persoonia | 13-Jul-2021 |
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| Larvicidal activity of Maytenus guianensis (Celastraceae) against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) | Martins MM, Dias AC, Facundo VA, Lima RA, Meneguetti DU, Silva AD | Rev Soc Bras Med Trop | 12-Apr-2021 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |