Ilex theezans Mart.

A tree. It grows 12-18 m high. It has a round crown. The trunk is smooth and 30-50 cm across. The leaves are 5-10 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers are in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is round and red. It is 4-8 mm across. There are 2-6 small seeds.

Open formations at the edges of forests; Araucaria forests; coastal plains where it can become abundant in the arboreal vegetation near the coast.

The leaves are mixed with true mate to add a bitter flavour.

Plants can be grown from seed. The seeds are removed by crushing the fruit is running water. The seeds have a hard seed coat and need to be stored in a cool, moist places for an extended period. The seeds are then planted and germinate in 30-50 days.