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AMERICAN HOLLY. 

 Ilex opaca, Ait. 



FAMILY AND GENUS DESCRIPTION— The Holly family, Aquifoliaceae, comprises 3 genera 

 with about 290 species of small trees and shrubs distributed in temperate and tropical regions. 

 Two genera, Ilex and Nemopanthus, are native to Pennsylvania. The former genus is repre- 

 sented by 5 species and the latter by 1 species. Two of the 5 species of the genus Ilex are 

 described below. The Mountain Holly, Nemoi)anthus mucronata, is usually a shrub rarely over 

 10 ft. in height. 



FORM — Usually a small tree reaching a height of 15-30 ft., but may attain a height of 50 ft. 

 with a diameter of 3 feet. It io small in the North, but becomes larger in the South. Trunk 

 short and bears slender, spreading and ascending branches which form a conic crown. 



BARK — Close, white or grayish or yellowish-brown, up to I of an inch m thickness, becoming 

 rough with age. 



TWIGS'— Rather slender finely rusty hairy but soon become smooth and light brown, covered 

 by a few inconspicuous lenticels. 



BUDS — Alternate; terminal one present and pointed; lateral ones are short, blunt-pointed, and 

 somewhat downy. 



LEAVES — Alternate, simple, ' evergreen, thick, • mostly smooth, flat, oval, with wavy margin 

 and spiny teeth. Petioles are short, stout, and often hardy. Midrib is very prominent on the 

 lower surface of the leaf. 



LEAF-SCARS — Alternate, semi-oval, rather conspicuous, with raised margin containing solitary 

 bundle-scars. 



FLOWERS — Appear from April to June. The staminate and pistillate usually occur on different 

 trees. The staminate are 2-9 on a common stalk while the pistillate are usually solitary. 



FRUIT — A bright red drupe, about the size of a pea, smooth, shining, persisting far into 

 winter; containing a light brown nutlet with usually 4 ribs. 



WOOD — Diflfuse-porous; with distinct and colorless medullary rays; chalky-white in color, 

 medium in weight, hard, tough, not strong, close-grained. Weighs 36.26 lbs. per cubic foot. 

 Used in turnery, cabinet making and interior finishings, and for keys in pianos and organs. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The American Holly, also known as Holly or White 

 Holly, can be distinguished at any season of tlie year by its unique leaves, which are thick, 

 flat, and oval, have wavy margins with scattered spiny teeth and persist for 2 or more years. 

 Branches, bearing these unique leaves, are sold extensively about Christmas in most of our 

 northern markets. The small red fruit, often persisting far into winter, is also distinctive. 

 In cultivation one often finds the closely related European Holly (Ilex Aquifolium) which has 

 leaves of a deeper green and with more wavy margins which have translucent edges. The berries 

 of the European species are deeper red in color. 



RANGE — Maine, through Pennsylvania to Florida, westward to Indiana, Missouri and Texas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA- Very rare and local. Found in the following counties: 

 Bucks, Dauphin, Delaware, Chester, Franklin, Lancaster and York. Only one specimen Is 

 known to grow wild in Franklin county. 



HABITAT — Usually found in moist soil near water. Prefers shelterd and shaded situations. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — The American Holly does not produce an^ wood of com- 

 mercial importance in this State. Immense quantities of branches, bearing the unique and 

 attractive leaves and bright red berries, are used for decorative purposes during the Christmas 

 season. It is occasionally planted for ornamental purposes because it ia very beautiful, but one 

 sUoultJ remember tbat it grows slowly, 



