Monteverdia ilicifolia, commonly known as congorosa, cancrosa, chuchuwasi (called congorosa in Argentina and Uruguay), or maiteno, is a shrub found throughout much of Paraguay, the northwest of Argentina, the southern region of Brazil (where it is commonly called Espinheira-santa), and Uruguay. It is an evergreen that can grow up to five meters tall. It has slender branches, a broad crown, and a straight trunk. Its leaves are simple, alternate, irregularly elliptical-oblong, leathery, up to 7 cm in diameter, with a spiny-toothed edge, yellow margins, a very shiny green pointed tip on the upper side, and a pale underside. The flowers are small; the male flowers are yellow-brown, and the female ones are green with purple lines. The fruit is a yellow, two-valved capsule that contains one or two seeds, covered by a red-colored membrane. Its seeds have a strong capacity for dispersal. It grows in fertile soil, requires abundant moisture, and has slow growth. It is often used as firewood or to produce charcoal.CC BY-SA 4.0