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| The holly family consists of 5 genera and over 300 species of woody plants indigenous to temperate and tropical forests of every continent excluding Australia. The trees of the Aquifoliaceae family are of little value in the production forest products, but several are valued as ornamentals. |
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| Ilex cassine
dahoon holly |
| Habit
The dahoon holly is a large shrub or small tree, reaching about 20-30
feet in height, with a 12-15 inch diameter trunk. It has slender
ascending branches which form a low, broad, rounded crown.
Leaves are simple, alternate, and persistent. The leaves are 1.5-3
inches in length and have a wedge-shaped base. The leaf margins are
entire or toothed above the middle of the leaf toward the apex. At
first the leaves are pubescent, becoming glabrous as the plant matures.
Leaves are dark green above and paler green below. The leaf petioles
are short, stout and swollen at the base.
The twigs are slender, pubescent through about 3 seasons, then becoming
brown and glabrous. The pith is small and homogeneous.
The bark is gray and rough.
The dahoon holly grows near swamps; on moist, fertile soils with other
hardwoods; sometimes on sandy ridges. This plant occurs from southeast
Virginia south along the coast to Florida and the Keys; west to Louisiana.
It is also found in the Bahamas and Cuba.
This tree is of limited ornamental value, mostly in the southeaster
U.S.
 Query
the USDA Plant Database |
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| Ilex glabra
gallberry |
| Habit
Gallberry is an evergreen shrub which grows to about 7-9 feet in height and sprouts from underground runners. It is a very common plant in the understory of pine flatwoods. Leaves Leaves are simple, alternate, and persistent. Leaf blades are
glabrous, somewhat leathery, elliptic in shape, and about 1-2 inches in
length. The upper surfaces are dark green and shiny, while the lower
surfaces are paler and dull with scattered small reddish-colored glands.
Leaf margins are mostly entire, with small teeth occurring toward the apex
of the leaf. The petioles are powdery-pubescent and are less than
a centimeter in length.
The twigs are slender, pubescent through about 3 seasons, then becoming
gray or grayish-brown and glabrous. The pith is small and homogeneous.
Gallberry grows in pine savannas, flatwoods, bogs, seepage areas, and
on the lower slopes of wooded ravines. This plant occurs from Nova
Scotia to south Florida; wet to northeast Texas, mainly on the coastal
plain.
This tree is of limited ornamental value, mostly in the southeastern
U.S.
Query
the USDA Plant Database |
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| Ilex opaca
American holly |
| Habit
Leaves are simple, alternate, and persistent. The leaves are 2-4
inches in length, 1-2 inches wide and have a rounded or wedge-shaped base.
The leaf margins are wavy with numerous stout, stiff, sharp-pointed spines.
However, leaves with entire margins occasionally may be found. Leaves
are dull yellowish-green above and paler and more yellowish below.
Leaf petioles are short, stout, and grooved with swollen bases.
The twigs are slender, light brown, and glabrous. The pith is small and homogeneous. Bark The bark is gray, thin, and rough, with wart-like bumps.
The dahoon holly grows on rich, moist bottomlands, boarders of swamps,
and dry but well-protected slopes. This tree is frequently found
on sandy soils near the coast. It is distributed along the coast
from Massachusetts to Florida; west to eastern Texas; north along the Mississippi
valley to southern Indiana and Illinois.
Holly wood is used in cabinetry and in the manufacture of wooden novelties
and souvenirs. The foliage and fruits of the American holly are commonly
used for holiday decorations.
Query
the USDA Plant Database |
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The
American holly is a small- to medium-size tree, commonly 30-50 feet in
height and 1-2 feet in diameter. The branches are short, slender,
and somewhat contorted, forming a pyramidal crown.