144 MISC. PUBLICATION 303, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



A small to large shrub or small to large tree ; flowers in May ; 1,375 berries 

 per pound ; germination of seed about 50 percent. 

 Stomach records: White-tailed deer. 



Ilex monticola, see Ilex montana. 

 Ilex myrtifolia, see Ilex cassine. 



Ilex opaca Ait. (pi. 16, B). American holly. 



Range : 20, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30. 

 Site: Dry, well-drained, moist, sun, shade. 

 Fruit: Berry, available August-June. 



A small to large evergreen tree ; occurs on sandy, loam, gravel, clay, and other 

 soils ; flowers April-June ; taproot deep and well developed, especially with age ; 

 easy to transplant when young ; slow growing, somewhat long-lived ; free from 

 insects and diseases ; wood of importance commercially ; fruits 5 to 8 years after 

 planting; embryo of seed rudimentary, good germination obtained when seeds 

 are treated with a normal solution of potassium hydroxide for 5 minutes, then 

 a normal solution of hydrochloric acid, washed and sown, and watered as needed 

 with a 5-percent solution of glucose; 31,000 seeds per pound, germination 20 

 percent, about 1,000 usable plants per pound of seed. 



The berries are borne on pistillate trees or occasionally on trees which may be 

 monoecious. In growing hollies from seed, the proportion of pistillate to stami- 

 nate trees produced is about 1 to 10. The plants ordinarily flower from 5 to 12 

 years after planting, but until then the two kinds of plants cannot be distin- 

 guished. Wild seedlings ordinarily are not satisfactory for transplanting be- 

 cause of the extensive root system developed at an early age. Seed germination 

 extends at the very least over 1 year, and nothing is to be gained by fall plant- 

 ing since seeds sown in spring germinate just as quickly as if sown 6 months 

 earlier. Propagation by cuttings results in forms true to type. All staminate 

 forms should not be destroyed since pollination is necessary for the formation 

 of the fruit. 



Stomach records: Eighteen species of birds, including bobwhite and wild 

 turkey; white-tailed deer. Observations: Refused by captive marsh rabbit. 



Ilex verticillata (L.) Gray. Winterberry. 



Range : 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. 

 Site: Dry, well-drained, moist, sun, shade. 

 Fruit: Berry; available September-October, persistent or not. 

 A small to large shrub or rarely a small tree ; flowers June-July ; free from 

 insects and diseases; easily transplanted; 2,000 berries per pound. Several 

 minor varieties have been described. 



Var. tenuifolia Wats., (7. bronxensis Britt.) has solitary fruit and occurs 

 in the northeastern part of the species range. 



Stomach records: Sixteen species of birds, including ruffed grouse, bobwhite, 

 and sharp-tailed grouse. Observations: Ten species of birds, including ring- 

 necked pheasant. 



Ilex vomitoria Ait. (pi. 16, O). Yaupon. 



Range: 20, 28, 29, 30. 



Site: Dry, well-drained, sun. 



Fruit : Berry ; available September-October, persistent or not. 

 A large evergreen shrub ; occurs in sandy and other soils ; flowers in May. 

 Stomach records: Seven species of birds, including bobwhite. 



Illicium floridanum Ell. 

 Range : 29, 30. 



Site: Well-drained, moist, sun. 

 Fruit : Drupelike. 

 A large evergreen shrub. Reputed to be poisonous to livestock. 



Illicoides mucronata, see Nemopanthus mucronata. 



Indigofera sphaerocarpa Gray. 

 Range: 10. 

 Site: Dry, sun. 

 Fruit: Legume. 

 A small shrub. 



