Description: Younger Maytenus trunks are bent and of irregular cross-section, often
misshapen
and twisted and rarely straight. Frequently, sections of the tree
die and new growth occurs in other areas leaving the trunk with
abrupt, cut-off ends and thin, relatively young main stems. Trunks
of older trees (to 70 cm) tend to less eccentric, while more cylindrical
and straight. The bark of small trees is smooth and dark green-black,
with finely textured vertical cracking. Older individuals sport
grayer, rougher, and pock-marked bark with narrow fissures. Maytenus
branches are characteristically long and thin, and they droop
under their own weight in an almost willow-like fashion. Leaves
(15 cm by 5 cm) are glabrous, simple, and alternately arranged.
Elliptically shaped, they end in abruptly-tapering drip-tips.
The blades are waxy and thick, and they are arranged in two-tiers
along zigzagging twigs. New foliage is produced biannually: in
April, and then for an extended period from late September to
December. The unobtrusive flowers are small (5 mm in diameter),
yellow-green, and born in short, axillary racemes. Each disk-like
bud opens into a 5-sepaled, petal-less flower with five yellow
stamens and a central pistil set in a green, knob-like gland.
Synchronous, universal flower production occurs from late March
through June with individual trees often flowering sporadically
at other times during the year. Fruits (2 cm by 1 cm) are
yellow-brown, club or balloon-shaped capsules supported by short
green 
stalks.
When mature, they split longitudinally into halves. Inside, a
large and pasty, snow-white aril covers 2 glossy, flat, brown
seeds. Fruit shape and size in this species are quite variable.
Harvests occur from late July through early October.
