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{{about|the plant}}
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Holly
| image = english holly.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = European Holly
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Aquifoliales]]
| familia = [[Aquifoliaceae]]
| genus = '''''Ilex'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
''Ilex ambigua'' - [[Sand Holly]]<br>
''Ilex amelanchier'' - [[Swamp Holly]]<br>
''Ilex aquifolium'' - [[European Holly]]<br>
''Ilex bioritsensis''<br>
''Ilex buergeri''<br>
''Ilex canariensis'' - [[Small-leaved Holly]]<br>
''Ilex cassine'' - [[Dahoon holly|Dahoon Holly]]<br>
''Ilex centrochinensis''<br>
''Ilex ciliospinosa''<br>
''Ilex colchica''<br>
''Ilex collina''<br>
''Ilex corallina''<br>
''Ilex coriacea'' - [[Gallberry]]<br>
''Ilex cornuta'' - [[Chinese Holly]]<br>
''Ilex crenata'' - [[Japanese Holly]]<br>
''Ilex cyrtura''<br>
''Ilex decidua'' - [[Possumhaw]]<br>
''Ilex dehongensis''<br>
''Ilex dimorphophylla''<br>
''Ilex dipyrena'' - [[Himalayan Holly]]<br>
''Ilex fargesii''<br>
''Ilex geniculata''<br>
''Ilex georgei''<br>
''Ilex glabra'' - [[Gallberry]], Inkberry<br>
''Ilex goshiensis''<br>
''[[Ilex guayusa]]''<br>
''[[Ilex integra]]''<br>
''Ilex intricata''<br>
''Ilex kingiana''<br>
''Ilex kudingcha''<br>
''Ilex kusanoi''<br>
''Ilex laevigata''<br>
''Ilex latifolia'' - [[Tarajo Holly]]<br>
''Ilex leucoclada''<br>
''Ilex longipes''<br>
''Ilex macrocarpa''<br>
''Ilex macropoda''<br>
''Ilex mitis''<br>
''Ilex montana'' - [[Mountain Winterberry]]<br>
''Ilex mucronata'' - [[Mountain Holly]]<br>
''Ilex myrtifolia'' - [[Myrtle Holly]]<br>
''Ilex nothofagifolia''<br>
''Ilex opaca'' - [[American Holly]]<br>
''Ilex paraguariensis'' - [[Yerba mate|Yerba Mate]]<br>
''Ilex pedunculosa''<br>
''Ilex perado'' - [[Madeiran Holly]]<br>
''Ilex pernyi'' - [[Perny's Holly]]<br>
''Ilex pringlei''<br>
''Ilex pubescens''<br>
''Ilex purpurea''<br>
''Ilex rotunda''<br>
''Ilex rugosa''<br>
''Ilex serrata'' - [[Japanese Winterberry]]<br>
''Ilex sikkimensis''<br>
''Ilex spinigera''<br>
''Ilex sugerokii''<br>
''Ilex tolucana''<br>
''Ilex verticillata'' - [[American Winterberry]]<br>
''Ilex vomitoria'' - [[Yaupon Holly]]<br>
''Ilex wilsonii''<br>
''Ilex yunnanensis''
}}
'''Holly''' ('''''Ilex''''') is a genus of about 400 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Aquifoliaceae]], and the only genus in that family. They are [[shrub]]s and [[tree]]s from 2-25 m tall, with a wide distribution in [[Asia]], [[Europe]], north [[Africa]], and [[North America|North]] and [[South America]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are simple, and can be either [[deciduous]] or [[evergreen]] depending on the species, and may be entire, finely toothed, or with widely-spaced, spine-tipped serrations. Hollies are mostly [[Plant sexuality|dioecious]], with male and female [[flower]]s on different plants, with some exceptions. [[Pollination]] is mainly by [[bee]]s and other [[insect]]s. The [[fruit]] is a small [[berry]], usually red when mature, with one to ten seeds.
[[Image:Hollyflowers.jpg|300px|left|thumb|Hollies (here, ''Ilex aquifolium'') are dioecious: (above) shoot with flowers from male plant; (top right) male flower enlarged, showing [[stamen]]s with [[pollen]] and reduced, sterile [[Carpel|stigma]]; (below) shoot with flowers from female plant; (lower right) female flower enlarged, showing stigma and reduced, sterile stamens with no pollen.]]
Holly berries are mildly toxic and will cause vomiting and/or diarrhea when ingested by [[human|people]]. However they are extremely important food for numerous species of [[bird]]s, and also are eaten by other wild animals. In the fall and early winter the berries are hard and apparently unpalatable. After being frozen or frosted several times, the berries soften, and become edible. During winter [[storm]]s, [[bird]]s often take refuge in hollies, which provide [[shelter]], protection from [[predator]]s (by the spiny leaves), and [[food]]. The flowers are sometimes eaten by the [[larva]] of the [[Double-striped Pug]] [[moth]]. Other [[Lepidoptera]] whose larvae feed on holly include ''[[Bucculatricidae|Bucculatrix ilecella]]'' (which feeds exclusively on holly) and the [[Engrailed]].
The species ''Ilex mucronata'', formerly treated in a separate genus ''Nemopanthus'', is now included in ''Ilex'' on molecular data (Powell et al. 2000).
===Origin of Name===
The origin of the word holly is the [[11th century|11<sup>th</sup> century]] [[Old High German]] ''hulis'' and [[Old English]] ''holegn'' both meaning holly. The word ''hulis'' originates from an even older proto-Germanic word ''khuli'' - a shortened derivation of the ancient [[Gaelic language|Gaelic]] ''cuilieann'' both meaning holly. Today in modern Gaelic, holly is still known as ''cuileann''.
The botanic name ''ilex'' was the original Latin name for the [[Holm oak]], which has similar foliage to common holly, and is occasionally confused with it.
===Uses===
[[Image:winterberry1.jpg|thumb|left|[[American Winterberry]] foliage and berries]]
In many western cultures, holly is a traditional [[Christmas]] decoration, used especially in [[wreath]]s. Many of the hollies are highly decorative, and are widely used as ornamental plants in [[garden]]s and [[park]]s. The [[wood]] is heavy, hard and white; one traditional use is for [[chess]] pieces, with holly for the white pieces, and [[ebony]] for the black. Other uses include turnery, inlay work and as firewood. [[Loom]]s in the [[1800s]] used holly for the spinning rod. Because holly is dense and can be sanded very smooth, the rod was less likely than other woods to snag threads being used to make cloth.
[[Image:VariegatedHollyBush.jpg|thumb|left|Trunk and leaves of a [[variegated]] holly bush.]]
Several [[Americas|American]] holly species are used to make various [[caffeine]] rich teas. The [[South America|South American]] ''I. paraguariensis'' is used to make [[yerba mate]], a common drink. ''[[Ilex guayusa|I. guayusa]]'' is used both as a stimulant and as an admixture to the [[entheogen]]ic tea [[ayahuasca]]; The leaves of ''I. guayusa'' have the highest caffeine content of any known plant. In [[North America|North]] and [[Central America]], ''[[Ilex vomitoria|I. vomitoria]]'', [[Yaupon holly|Yaupon]], was used by southeastern [[Native_Americans_in_the_United_States|American Indians]] as a ceremonial stimulant and emetic known as the [[black drink]]. As the name suggests, the tea's purgative properties were one of its main uses, most often ritually. In [[China]], the young leaf buds of ''[[Ilex kudingcha| I. kudingcha]]'' are processed in a method similar to [[green tea]] to make a [[tisane]] called [[Ku Ding tea]].
==References==
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?6018 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Ilex'' species list]
*[http://www.efloras.org/browse.aspx?flora_id=3&start_taxon_id=116366 Flora of China: ''Ilex'' species list]
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=201&taxon_id=116366 Flora of Ecuador: ''Ilex'']
*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Ilex&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: ''Ilex'' species list]
*[http://www.efloras.org/browse.aspx?flora_id=110&start_taxon_id=116366 Flora of Nepal: ''Ilex'' species list]
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ILEX USDA Plants Profile: ''Ilex'']
*Powell, M., Savolainen, V., Cuénod, P., Manen, J. F., & Andrews, S. (2000). The mountain holly (''Nemopanthus mucronatus'': Aquifoliaceae) revisited with molecular data. ''Kew Bulletin'' 55: 341-347.
==External links==
*[http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1511:1 ''Growing Christmas holly on the farm''] hosted by the [http://digital.library.unt.edu/browse/department/govdocs/ UNT Government Documents Department]
{{commons|Ilex aquifolium}}
{{Wiktionarypar|ilex}}
[[Category:Aquifoliales]]
[[Category:Christmas plants]]
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Holly
| image = english holly.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = European Holly
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Aquifoliales]]
| familia = [[Aquifoliaceae]]
| genus = '''''Ilex'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
''Ilex ambigua'' - [[Sand Holly]]<br>
''Ilex amelanchier'' - [[Swamp Holly]]<br>
''Ilex aquifolium'' - [[European Holly]]<br>
''Ilex bioritsensis''<br>
''Ilex buergeri''<br>
''Ilex canariensis'' - [[Small-leaved Holly]]<br>
''Ilex cassine'' - [[Dahoon holly|Dahoon Holly]]<br>
''Ilex centrochinensis''<br>
''Ilex ciliospinosa''<br>
''Ilex colchica''<br>
''Ilex collina''<br>
''Ilex corallina''<br>
''Ilex coriacea'' - [[Gallberry]]<br>
''Ilex cornuta'' - [[Chinese Holly]]<br>
''Ilex crenata'' - [[Japanese Holly]]<br>
''Ilex cyrtura''<br>
''Ilex decidua'' - [[Possumhaw]]<br>
''Ilex dehongensis''<br>
''Ilex dimorphophylla''<br>
''Ilex dipyrena'' - [[Himalayan Holly]]<br>
''Ilex fargesii''<br>
''Ilex geniculata''<br>
''Ilex georgei''<br>
''Ilex glabra'' - [[Gallberry]], Inkberry<br>
''Ilex goshiensis''<br>
''[[Ilex guayusa]]''<br>
''[[Ilex integra]]''<br>
''Ilex intricata''<br>
''Ilex kingiana''<br>
''Ilex kudingcha''<br>
''Ilex kusanoi''<br>
''Ilex laevigata''<br>
''Ilex latifolia'' - [[Tarajo Holly]]<br>
''Ilex leucoclada''<br>
''Ilex longipes''<br>
''Ilex macrocarpa''<br>
''Ilex macropoda''<br>
''Ilex mitis''<br>
''Ilex montana'' - [[Mountain Winterberry]]<br>
''Ilex mucronata'' - [[Mountain Holly]]<br>
''Ilex myrtifolia'' - [[Myrtle Holly]]<br>
''Ilex nothofagifolia''<br>
''Ilex opaca'' - [[American Holly]]<br>
''Ilex paraguariensis'' - [[Yerba mate|Yerba Mate]]<br>
''Ilex pedunculosa''<br>
''Ilex perado'' - [[Madeiran Holly]]<br>
''Ilex pernyi'' - [[Perny's Holly]]<br>
''Ilex pringlei''<br>
''Ilex pubescens''<br>
''Ilex purpurea''<br>
''Ilex rotunda''<br>
''Ilex rugosa''<br>
''Ilex serrata'' - [[Japanese Winterberry]]<br>
''Ilex sikkimensis''<br>
''Ilex spinigera''<br>
''Ilex sugerokii''<br>
''Ilex tolucana''<br>
''Ilex verticillata'' - [[American Winterberry]]<br>
''Ilex vomitoria'' - [[Yaupon Holly]]<br>
''Ilex wilsonii''<br>
''Ilex yunnanensis''
}}
'''Holly''' ('''''Ilex''''') is a genus of about 400 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Aquifoliaceae]], and the only genus in that family. They are [[shrub]]s and [[tree]]s from 2-25 m tall, with a wide distribution in [[Asia]], [[Europe]], north [[Africa]], and [[North America|North]] and [[South America]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are simple, and can be either [[deciduous]] or [[evergreen]] depending on the species, and may be entire, finely toothed, or with widely-spaced, spine-tipped serrations. Hollies are mostly [[Plant sexuality|dioecious]], with male and female [[flower]]s on different plants, with some exceptions. [[Pollination]] is mainly by [[bee]]s and other [[insect]]s. The [[fruit]] is a small [[berry]], usually red when mature, with one to ten seeds.
[[Image:Hollyflowers.jpg|300px|left|thumb|Hollies (here, ''Ilex aquifolium'') are dioecious: (above) shoot with flowers from male plant; (top right) male flower enlarged, showing [[stamen]]s with [[pollen]] and reduced, sterile [[Carpel|stigma]]; (below) shoot with flowers from female plant; (lower right) female flower enlarged, showing stigma and reduced, sterile stamens with no pollen.]]
Holly berries are mildly toxic and will cause vomiting and/or diarrhea when ingested by [[human|people]]. However they are extremely important food for numerous species of [[bird]]s, and also are eaten by other wild animals. In the fall and early winter the berries are hard and apparently unpalatable. After being frozen or frosted several times, the berries soften, and become edible. During winter [[storm]]s, [[bird]]s often take refuge in hollies, which provide [[shelter]], protection from [[predator]]s (by the spiny leaves), and [[food]]. The flowers are sometimes eaten by the [[larva]] of the [[Double-striped Pug]] [[moth]]. Other [[Lepidoptera]] whose larvae feed on holly include ''[[Bucculatricidae|Bucculatrix ilecella]]'' (which feeds exclusively on holly) and the [[Engrailed]].
The species ''Ilex mucronata'', formerly treated in a separate genus ''Nemopanthus'', is now included in ''Ilex'' on molecular data (Powell et al. 2000).
===Origin of Name===
The origin of the word holly is the [[11th century|11<sup>th</sup> century]] [[Old High German]] ''hulis'' and [[Old English]] ''holegn'' both meaning holly. The word ''hulis'' originates from an even older proto-Germanic word ''khuli'' - a shortened derivation of the ancient [[Gaelic language|Gaelic]] ''cuilieann'' both meaning holly. Today in modern Gaelic, holly is still known as ''cuileann''.
The botanic name ''ilex'' was the original Latin name for the [[Holm oak]], which has similar foliage to common holly, and is occasionally confused with it.
===Uses===
[[Image:winterberry1.jpg|thumb|left|[[American Winterberry]] foliage and berries]]
In many western cultures, holly is a traditional [[Christmas]] decoration, used especially in [[wreath]]s. Many of the hollies are highly decorative, and are widely used as ornamental plants in [[garden]]s and [[park]]s. The [[wood]] is heavy, hard and white; one traditional use is for [[chess]] pieces, with holly for the white pieces, and [[ebony]] for the black. Other uses include turnery, inlay work and as firewood. [[Loom]]s in the [[1800s]] used holly for the spinning rod. Because holly is dense and can be sanded very smooth, the rod was less likely than other woods to snag threads being used to make cloth.
[[Image:VariegatedHollyBush.jpg|thumb|left|Trunk and leaves of a [[variegated]] holly bush.]]
Several [[Americas|American]] holly species are used to make various [[caffeine]] rich teas. The [[South America|South American]] ''I. paraguariensis'' is used to make [[yerba mate]], a common drink. ''[[Ilex guayusa|I. guayusa]]'' is used both as a stimulant and as an admixture to the [[entheogen]]ic tea [[ayahuasca]]; The leaves of ''I. guayusa'' have the highest caffeine content of any known plant. In [[North America|North]] and [[Central America]], ''[[Ilex vomitoria|I. vomitoria]]'', [[Yaupon holly|Yaupon]], was used by southeastern [[Native_Americans_in_the_United_States|American Indians]] as a ceremonial stimulant and emetic known as the [[black drink]]. As the name suggests, the tea's purgative properties were one of its main uses, most often ritually. In [[China]], the young leaf buds of ''[[Ilex kudingcha| I. kudingcha]]'' are processed in a method similar to [[green tea]] to make a [[tisane]] called [[Ku Ding tea]].
==References==
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?6018 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Ilex'' species list]
*[http://www.efloras.org/browse.aspx?flora_id=3&start_taxon_id=116366 Flora of China: ''Ilex'' species list]
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=201&taxon_id=116366 Flora of Ecuador: ''Ilex'']
*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Ilex&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: ''Ilex'' species list]
*[http://www.efloras.org/browse.aspx?flora_id=110&start_taxon_id=116366 Flora of Nepal: ''Ilex'' species list]
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ILEX USDA Plants Profile: ''Ilex'']
*Powell, M., Savolainen, V., Cuénod, P., Manen, J. F., & Andrews, S. (2000). The mountain holly (''Nemopanthus mucronatus'': Aquifoliaceae) revisited with molecular data. ''Kew Bulletin'' 55: 341-347.
==External links==
*[http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1511:1 ''Growing Christmas holly on the farm''] hosted by the [http://digital.library.unt.edu/browse/department/govdocs/ UNT Government Documents Department]
{{commons|Ilex aquifolium}}
{{Wiktionarypar|ilex}}
[[Category:Aquifoliales]]
[[Category:Christmas plants]]
