Plants

holythorn

Monteverdia ilicifolia

Family: Celastraceae · Genus: Monteverdia

espinheira-santa

Secondary I Medium No biomass production

holythorn — Patricio Cowper Coles · CC BY · iNaturalist

An evergreen shrub or small tree of the Celastraceae family, native to southern and southeastern Brazil, with leathery, spiny-margined holly-like leaves. It grows in forest understory and grasslands, tolerating partial shade. Traditionally used in folk medicine for gastric complaints. It flowers in spring and fruits in summer, the fruit eaten and dispersed by birds.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Secondary I
Ecological role: Late secondary
Primary stratum: Medium
Strata: Low, Medium
Biomass class: No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement: Partial shade
Water requirement: Moderate
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Waterlogging tolerance: Low
Soil pH range: 5–6.5
Preferred soil texture: Loamy, Clayey
Hardiness zones: 9–11
Frost tolerance: -4.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height: 1–5 m
Root system: Taproot
Root depth: Medium
Growth rate: Slow
Lifespan: 15–40 years
Time to first harvest: 24 months
Productive lifespan: 25 years

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Native
Cerrado Native
Pampa Native

Köppen classes

Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable
Oceanic (Cfb) Suitable
Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Holythorn takes the Medium stratum in the Secondary I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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✂️ Management & Pruning

A slow-growing woody shrub that tolerates pruning and resprouts; it can be coppiced to push out new shoots and ease leaf harvest. Use formative pruning to open the crown and pick mature leaves in stages, avoiding complete defoliation that weakens the plant.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: September, October, November

Fruiting months: January, February

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of holythorn?

The first harvest of holythorn comes around 24 months after planting.

How tall does holythorn grow?

At maturity, holythorn reaches 1–5 m tall.

When does holythorn fruit?

Fruiting of holythorn occurs in January, February.

When does holythorn flower?

Flowering of holythorn occurs in September, October, November.

What stage and stratum does holythorn occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, holythorn belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the medium stratum.

Functions

Medicinal Ornamental

Propagation

Seed, Cutting

Citations

Plants of the World Online (POWO), Kew (scientific_name, synonyms, family, genus)
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (scientific_name, gbif_taxon_key)
Wikipedia (pt) — Maytenus ilicifolia (description, height_max_m, phenology, light_need, common_names, biomes)
Lorenzi & Matos, Plantas Medicinais no Brasil: Nativas e Exóticas (pruning_notes, lifespan_years_min, lifespan_years_max, productive_lifespan_years, time_to_first_harvest_months, frost_tolerance_c)
Wikidata (wikidata_qid)