Maytenus oleosa is a rare, willow-like, small tree in the family Celastraceae which is limited in habitat to lowland forests along the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape coasts of South Africa, particularly where there are streams or rivers.[1] It is commonly associated with Gymnosporia bachmannii. The species is threatened by habitat loss and agricultural activities.
Efforts to conserve the tree are in place; it is a protected species in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve and Mkambati Nature Reserve, and several forest areas have been demarcated in the Transkei.