Trees of Xew York State 287 



AQUIFOLIACEAE 



Ilex opacH Ait. 



Holly 



Habit — A small tree 20-30 feet in height Avith a trunk diameter of 6-18 

 inches, under favorable conditions sometimes 50 feet tall with a trunk 

 3 feet in diameter. Bole continuous tlirough the crowii. Crown compact, 

 conicjil, consisting of slender, spreading, horizontal or somewhat drooping 

 branches bearing evergreen leaves, often extending nearly to the ground. 



Leaves — Alternate, elliptical to obovate-oblong, 2-4 inches long, pungently 

 acute at the apex, broadly cuneate at the base, sinuate with rather dis- 

 tant spiny teeth or entire, at maturity coriaceous, dull dark green, gla- 

 brous and centrally grooved above, paler and smooth beneath, borne on 

 short, stout, thickened petioles. 



Flowers — Appearing in late May and June in New York State, small, dioe- 

 cious, axillary on slender, puberulous, bracteolate pedicels, the staminate 

 in 3-9-flowered cymes, the pistillate singly or 2-3 together. Calyx minute, 

 4-6-lobed, the lobes triangular, acute, ciliate, persistent. Petals 4-6, 

 oblong, obtuse, greenish white, about % of an inch long. Stamens 4-6, 

 alternate with the petals, exserted, with subulate filaments and oblong 

 anthers. Pistil consisting of a sessile, subcylindrical, 4-6-celled ovary and 

 sessile, usually confluent stigmas which persist in fruit 



Fruit — A spherical or ovoid, glabrous, dull red or occasionally yellow drupe, 

 about ^4 of an inch in diameter, subtended by the persistent calyx, usually 

 borne solitary- on short, stout stalks, ripening in the autumn but remain- 

 ing on the branches until the following spring. Xutlets light brown, promi- 

 nently feAv-ribbed on the back. 



Winter characters — Leaves persisting on the tAvig about three years, turning 

 yellowish green during the winter months. T^rigs rather stout, glabrous, 

 pale brown, AA-ith inconspicuous lenticels. Buds short, the terminal acute, 

 the lateral obtuse and someAvhat doAvny. Mature bark grayish white, 

 roughened by Avarty excrescences, about Vo of an inch thick. 



Habitat — Prefers moist sites on the borders of SAA-amps and on rich bottom- 

 lands but thrives on drier soils in protected situations. Along the coast 

 it is frequently found groAA-ing behind the protecting sand dunes. 



Range — Coastal region from Maine to Florida and eastern Texas, extending 

 north in the Mississippi basin to southern Illinois and Indiana. It is ex- 

 ceedingly rare at liigher elevations in the interior. Zone A. 



Uses — The sprays of evergreen leaves and bright berries (drupes) are used 

 in immense quantities for holiday decoration. The tree possesses orna- 

 mental A-alue but is not used extensively for this purpose because of its 

 sloAV groAvth. Wood light, tough, rather AA-eak, close-grained, ivory-white 

 AA-hen first cut. turning brown A\'ith exposure. Used for umbrella handles, 

 lor turnery of all sorts, and in the manufacture of souA'enirs and nick- 

 nacks. 



