Ilex opaca

Ilex opaca, commonly known as the American Holly, is a species of holly native to the eastern and south-central United States, from coastal Massachusetts south to central Florida, and west to southeastern Missouri and eastern Texas.

Description

The Ilex opaca is an evergreen tree growing to 10–20 m tall, with a trunk diameter up to 50 cm. The bark is light gray, roughened by small warty lumps. The branchlets are stout, green at first and covered with rusty down, later they become a smooth, dark green. The winter buds are brown, short, obtuse or acute.

The leaves remain on the branches for two to three years, finally falling in the spring when pushed off by growing buds. They are dark green, elliptical, and are generally 5–7.5 cm long and 2–4 cm wide. The flowers are white, small, borne in late spring in short pedunculate cymes from the axils of young leaves or scattered along the base of young branches.

The fruit is a drupe, one to two centimeters in diameter, a bright red or sometimes yellow, containing four seeds. The fruit ripens in late autumn, persists into winter and is eaten by birds. The seed is dispersed by birds and mammals.

Cultivation and uses

Ilex opaca is often used in landscaping for its attractive foliage and fruit. A number of cultivars have been selected for garden use, including 'Greenleaf', 'Satyr Hill', and 'Xanthocarpa'. The wood is very pale, tough, close-grained, takes a good polish, and is used for whip-handles, engraving blocks and also for cabinet work. The Native Americans used the wood for making various domestic utensils.

Ecology

The Ilex opaca is a food plant for the caterpillars of a number of Lepidoptera species, including the Holly Azure butterfly. The fruits are also a vital late winter food source for numerous species of birds.

External links

• Ilex opaca - Information and images

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  Ilex opaca USDA illustration

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  American holly tree

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  American Holly Ilex opaca branch

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  American Holly along River Road in Ewing, New Jersey

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  Ilex opaca in winter