Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Celastrales
Family: Celastraceae
Genus: Maytenus
Species: M. boaria
Binomial name: Maytenus boaria
Common names: Chilean mayten, Mayten, Maiten
Maytenus boaria is an evergreen, dioecious tree of the family Celastraceae, native from Chile and Argentina in South America. It was introduced to New Zealand in 1881 and after being sold commercially in the 1920s it is now naturalised in several areas. It has been banned in New Zealand after it was listed as invasive species. It is now illegal under the Biosecurity Act to propagate, distribute or sell this plant - either casually or through nurseries - but existing plants are still allowed on private properties.
Maytenus boaria spreads aggressively by root suckers and seed.
For more details visit: https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/newsletters/biological-control-of-weeds/issue-80/chilean-mayten-a-ticking-time-bomb
Maytenus boaria is a tree that can grow up to 20 m. The trunk is straight and can have a diameter of 80 cm.
The leaves are small, alternate, elliptical, fine serrate margins, light green colour, about 2.5 and 5 cm long.
The flowers are small; male flowers are brownish yellow and female are green with purple lines.
Its fruit is a yellow bivalve capsule, which contains one or two seeds, and is covered by a red-coloured membrane.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
