Maytenus boaria
Common name
maiten
Family
Celastraceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Occurs in the understorey of open native bush, among scrub and grasses (Heenan et al 1999).
Flower colours
Green
Year naturalised
1988
Origin
Temperate S. America
National Pest Plant Accord species
This plant is listed in the 2020 National Pest Plant Accord. The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is an agreement to prevent the sale and/or distribution of specified pest plants where either formal or casual horticultural trade is the most significant way of spreading the plant in New Zealand. For up to date information and an electronic copy of the 2020 Pest Plant Accord manual (including plant information and images) visit the MPI website.
Life Cycle Comments
Possibly dioecious (Cartman and McCombs 2002), Spreads by roots, suckers and possibly seed.
Reproduction
Spreads aggressively by root suckers and seed. (Heenan et al 1999).
Seed
Female plants produce small fruits with red oily flesh and one to two seeds inside (Cartman and McCombs 2002)
Dispersal
Birds.
Tolerances
Seedlings are able to grow in very low light (Cartman and McCombs 2002)