CAFFEINE-YIELDING PLANTS 203 



Geographical Distribution: — Bahia province of Brazil. 



Ilex theaezans Mart. 



Geographical Distribution : — Bahia, Minas Geraes, Rio de Janeiro, 

 Sao Paulo, Parana, and Rio do Sul provinces of Brazil. Corrientes 

 province of Argentina. 



Common Name: — Cauna, Cauna amarga, Cauna de folhas, and 

 Pao d'aceite in Brazil. Yerba in Argentina. 



Ilex Vitis-Idaea Loesener 



Geographical Distribution: — Minas Geraes province of Brazil. 



Ilex species (United States Group). 



Two species of Ilex containing caffeine in the leaves to the average 

 amount of 1% and tannin up to 7.4% occur in the southeastern 

 region of the United States vv^here they are known as the North 

 American Tea Plants, Yaupon, Cassina, and as the Christmas Berry 

 Tree. The Indians from Virginia to the Rio Grande and southward 

 throughout Florida utilized the leaves of Ilex Cassine L. and Ilex 

 vomttoria Ait., chiefly the latter, to prepare a drink similar in quality 

 to Mate. These two species are indigenous along the Atlantic coast 

 from the James River, Virginia, southward through Florida and 

 extending westward through the Gulf States to the Rio Grande 

 River. They are found inland for a distance of only twenty to thirty 

 miles. They occur abundantly in dense thickets on the Sea Islands 

 off the coast of South Carolina. 



In Carolina and Virginia, these species were commonly used as 

 substitutes for tea and coffee. They were called "Yaupon" or "Yo- 

 pon" from ''Yap" or "Yop," the Indian word of this region for the 

 wood, stem, or tree (or bush) of these species. The beverage is 

 also known as "Dahoon," and the plants, especially Ilex Cassine L., 

 as Dahoon Holly. 



In Florida, the Timucua Indians called the plant "Cassine" and 

 "Cassena" from the Muscogee Indian term "assie" meaning leaves. 

 This drink called "Cassine" or "Cassena" was known to the Whites 

 as the Black Drink or Black Draught. It was prepared by the early 

 white population in one of three ways: (i) an infusion of the fresh 

 leaves; (2) an infusion of the dried leaves; (3) an infusion of the 

 leaves which was allowed to ferment and become intoxicating. Mas- 

 tication of the herb referred to as "Cassiana" was long ago reported 

 from Florida as effective in combating hunger and thirst for a period 



