Trees to 15 m. Stems erect to spreading; branchlets gray-brown, pendent, glabrous. Leaves: petiole 2–5 mm; blade elliptic to lanceolate, 1–6 × 0.4–2 cm, base cuneate, margins regularly serrulate, apex acute. Flowers: sepals green, rounded; petals 1.5–3 m. Capsules yellow or straw colored, 5–9 × 5–6.5 mm.

Phenology: Flowering spring; fruiting summer.
Habitat: Disturbed scrub and oak woodlands.
Elevation: 100–400 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Calif., South America (Argentina, Chile).

Discussion

Maytenus boaria is naturalized in the San Francisco Bay area, where it spreads after fires.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.