Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets Ilex paraguariensis - Paraguay Tea, Mate
Leaves
Edible parts - leaves, leaves - tea
An evergreen shrub. It grows up to 6-18 m high. The leaves are 8-12 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. It has somewhat leathery holly like leaves. They are alternate. They are pale green. The edges are coarsely toothed. The flowers are white. They are in a tuft with the flowers at the same level. The berries are small and yellow, red or black.