mayten
(Maytenus boaria)
This species is Introduced in the United States
ORIGIN: South America
GROWTH TRAITS: Evergreen tree typically growing 20-50’ tall (6-15 m) from an extensive root system that regularly sends up suckers near the parent tree. The tree has a rounded crown with weeping, pendulous branches that are green when young but age gray-brown. The straight trunk has rough bark and is up to 30” in diameter (76 cm). Leaves are thick, elliptic, 1-2” long (2½-5 cm), and light green with toothed margins. Leaves are alternate and held perpendicular to the branch. Flowers appear in spring and are either male (brownish-yellow) or female (5 green petals with light purple lines). Both flower types are small and appear on the same tree. The fruit is a yellow capsule containing 1-2 seeds and is covered by a red-colored membrane.
REPRODUCTION: By seed and suckering from roots. It is unknown how long seeds may remain viable in the soil.
HABITAT: Found in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It is intolerant of full shade and harsh winters. Frequently escapes cultivation, capitalizing on disturbance to become problematic along hillsides and in pastures.
LOOK-ALIKES: Weeping willow (Salix babylonica and related hybrids) resembles mayten with its weeping, pendulous branches, and rough bark. However, the weeping willow is deciduous with golden branches while mayten is evergreen with green or brown branches. Weeping willow leaves are half as wide as mayten and are not perpendicular to the branches. Finally, the flowers of weeping willow are tiny and occur in small, tight clusters, and it's male and female flowers occur on separate trees.
CITATIONS:
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzländer. 2014. New Invaders of the Northwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/FHTET-2014-12_NW_New_Invaders.pdf
GROWTH TRAITS: Evergreen tree typically growing 20-50’ tall (6-15 m) from an extensive root system that regularly sends up suckers near the parent tree. The tree has a rounded crown with weeping, pendulous branches that are green when young but age gray-brown. The straight trunk has rough bark and is up to 30” in diameter (76 cm). Leaves are thick, elliptic, 1-2” long (2½-5 cm), and light green with toothed margins. Leaves are alternate and held perpendicular to the branch. Flowers appear in spring and are either male (brownish-yellow) or female (5 green petals with light purple lines). Both flower types are small and appear on the same tree. The fruit is a yellow capsule containing 1-2 seeds and is covered by a red-colored membrane.
REPRODUCTION: By seed and suckering from roots. It is unknown how long seeds may remain viable in the soil.
HABITAT: Found in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It is intolerant of full shade and harsh winters. Frequently escapes cultivation, capitalizing on disturbance to become problematic along hillsides and in pastures.
LOOK-ALIKES: Weeping willow (Salix babylonica and related hybrids) resembles mayten with its weeping, pendulous branches, and rough bark. However, the weeping willow is deciduous with golden branches while mayten is evergreen with green or brown branches. Weeping willow leaves are half as wide as mayten and are not perpendicular to the branches. Finally, the flowers of weeping willow are tiny and occur in small, tight clusters, and it's male and female flowers occur on separate trees.
CITATIONS:
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzländer. 2014. New Invaders of the Northwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/FHTET-2014-12_NW_New_Invaders.pdf
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Rosanae |
| Order: Celastrales |
| Family: Celastraceae |
| Genus: Maytenus |
| Maytenus boaria |
References
Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.