:''This article is about the plant type. For other uses see
Holly (disambiguation).''
Ilex ambigua - Sand Holly
Ilex amelanchier - Swamp Holly
Ilex aquifolium - European Holly
Ilex bioritsensis
Ilex buergeri
Ilex canariensis - Small-leaved Holly
Ilex cassine -
Dahoon Holly
Ilex centrochinensis
Ilex ciliospinosa
Ilex colchica
Ilex collina
Ilex corallina
Ilex coriacea
Ilex cornuta - Chinese Holly
Ilex crenata -
Japanese Holly
Ilex cyrtura
Ilex decidua - Possumhaw
Ilex dehongensis
Ilex dimorphophylla
Ilex dipyrena - Himalayan Holly
Ilex fargesii
Ilex geniculata
Ilex georgei
Ilex glabra - Gallberry, Inkberry
Ilex goshiensis
Ilex integra
Ilex intricata
Ilex kingiana
Ilex kusanoi
Ilex laevigata
Ilex latifolia - Tarajo Holly
Ilex leucoclada
Ilex longipes
Ilex macrocarpa
Ilex macropoda
Ilex montana - Mountain Holly
Ilex myrtifolia - Myrtle Holly
Ilex nothofagifolia
Ilex opaca -
American Holly
Ilex paraguariensis -
Yerba Mate
Ilex pedunculosa
Ilex perado - Madeiran Holly
Ilex pernyi - Perny's Holly
Ilex pringlei
Ilex pubescens
Ilex purpurea
Ilex rotunda
Ilex rugosa
Ilex serrata - Japanese Winterberry
Ilex sikkimensis
Ilex spinigera
Ilex sugerokii
Ilex tolucana
Ilex verticillata -
American Winterberry
Ilex vomitoria -
Yaupon Holly
Ilex wilsonii
Ilex yunnanensis
Holly ('''''Ilex''''') is a genus of about 400 species of
flowering plants in the family
Aquifoliaceae. They are
shrubs and
trees from 2-25 m tall, with a wide distribution in
Asia,
Europe, north
Africa, and
North and
South America. The
leaves are simple, and can be either
deciduous or
evergreen depending on the species, and may be entire, finely toothed, or with widely-spaced, spine-tipped leaves. Hollies are mostly
dioecious, with male and female
flowers on different plants, with some exceptions.
Pollination is mainly by
bees and other
insects. The
fruit is a small
berry, usually red when mature, with one to ten seeds.
[[American Winterberry foliage and berries]]
Holly berries are mildly toxic and will cause vomiting and/or diarrhea when ingested by
people (note the scientific name of the Yaupon Holly!). However they are extremely important food for numerous species of
birds, and also are eaten by other wild animals. In the fall and early winter the berries are hard and apparently unpalatable. After being frozen or frosted several times, the berries soften, and become edible. During winter
storms,
birds often take refuge in hollies, which provide
shelter, protection from
predators (by the spiny leaves), and
food. The flowers are sometimes eaten by the
larva of the
Double-striped Pug moth.
Uses
Holly was traditionally sacred to
druids. Many of the hollies are highly decorative, and are widely used as ornamental plants in
gardens and
parks. The
wood is heavy, hard and white; one traditional use is (together with
ebony) for
chess pieces, with holly for the white pieces, and ebony for the black. Other uses include turnery, inlay work and as firewood. The South American
I. paraguariensis is used to make
yerba mate, a
drink similar to
tea.
Trunk and leaves of a [[variegated holly bush.]]
External links
Category:Aquifoliales
da:Kristtorn_(Ilex)
de:Stechpalmen
eo:Ilekso
ja:セイヨウヒイラギ
nl:Hulst (plant)
pl:Ostrokrzew