Maytenus
(from Mayten, the Chilian name of the genus). SYN. Haenkea. ORD. Celastrineae. A genus comprising about fifty species of unarmed, greenhouse or half-hardy, evergreen shrubs or small trees, natives of the tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate Southern regions of America. Flowers white, yellow, or reddish, small, axillary, solitary or fasciculate, or cymose. Capsule coriaceous, one to three-celled. Leaves alternate, often distichous, petiolate, coriaceous, serrated. The wood of the arborescent species is extremely hard, and the leaves of the Peruvian kinds are much liked by cattle. The species are not largely grown in this country. For culture, see Celastrus. M. Boaria (Boaria). fl. white, scattered. l. opposite or alternate, oblong, smooth, serrated. h. 10ft. Chili, 1822. Greenhouse shrub. M. chilensis (Chilian). fl. greenish-yellow. May. l. ellipticoblong, tapering to the base, taper-pointed, with serrated edges. Chili, 1829. Half-hardy tree or shrub. (B. R. 1702.)