Holly (Ilex) is a genus of plants of the family Aquifoliaceae, embracing a number of evergreen trees or shrubs. The common holly (Ilex aquifolium) is common in Britain and the Continent of Europe. It is a conical evergreen tree growing to a height of ten metres in Britain. It's leaves are dark- green, shiny and leathery, abundantly armed with prickles on the lower branches but free from them on the higher branches. The flowers are white, appearing in May; the fruit is red, ripening in September, and remaining on the tree all the winter.
A good many varieties are known, distinguished by the shape and colour of the leaves, which are sometimes spotted or edged with yellow, etc. It is excellently adapted for hedges and fences, as it bears clipping. The wood is hard and white, and is employed for turnery work, knife handles, etc. The bark yields a mucilaginous substance, from which birdlime is made.
Among the Romans it was customary to send boughs of holly to friends, with new-year's gifts, as emblematical of good wishes; and it is used to decorate houses at Christmas.
The American holly (Ilex opaca} is widely diffused throughout the United States. It sometimes attains the height of 25 meters, with a trunk one meter in diameter. The Ilex glabra is another species of holly, inhabiting the coast regions of the United States. Its leaves furnished the 'black drink' which used to hold an important place in Indian ceremonies. The mate or Paraguay tea-plant is a species of holly (Ilex Paraguayensis). Research Holly
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Abbreviations
Nature
Research Holly
