Holly
181648
225621965
2008-07-14T16:31:07Z
Tj9991
192259
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Blackisnewpink175|Blackisnewpink175]] to last version by Tj9991 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
{{about|the plant}}
{{redirect|Ilex}}
{{taxobox
| name = Holly
| image = Ilex-aquifolium (Europaeische Stechpalme-1.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = [[European Holly]] (''Ilex aquifolium'') leaves and fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| subclassis = [[Asteridae]]
| unranked_ordo = [[Euasterids II]]
| ordo = [[Aquifoliales]]
| familia = '''Aquifoliaceae'''
| familia_authority = [[A. P. de Candolle|DC.]] ex [[A.Rich.]]
| genus = '''''Ilex'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision = About 600, see text
}}
'''Holly''' ('''''Ilex''''') is a [[genus]] of about 600 [[species]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the [[family (biology)|family]] '''Aquifoliaceae''', and the only living genus in that family. One other genus, the [[monotypic]] '''''Nemopanthus''''' ([[Mountain Holly]]), was formerly separated from ''Ilex'' on the basis that its [[flower]]s have a reduced [[calyx (flower)|calyx]] and narrow [[petal]]s, and also in [[cytology]], being [[tetraploid]], whereas ''Ilex'' is [[diploid]]. However, following analysis of molecular data, Mountain Holly has now been merged into ''Ilex'', as ''I. mucronata''; it is closely related to ''[[Ilex amelanchier|I. amelanchier]]''.<ref>Powell, M., Savolainen, V., Cuénoud, P., Manen, J. F., & Andrews, S. (2000). The mountain holly (''Nemopanthus mucronatus'': Aquifoliaceae) revisited with molecular data. ''Kew Bulletin'' 55: 341–347.</ref><ref>Gottlieb, A. M., Giberti, G. C., & Poggio, L. (2005). Molecular analyses of the genus Ilex (Aquifoliaceae) in southern South America, evidence from AFLP and ITS sequence data. ''Amer. J. Bot''. 92: 352-369. Available [http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/92/2/352 online].</ref>
==Description and ecology==
[[Image:Hollyflowers.jpg|300px|thumb|left|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.]]
Hollies 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. They 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]]s are small [[drupe]]s, usually with four to six pits, and range in color from red to purple-black.<ref>Judd, W. S., C. S. Campbell, E. A. Kellogg, P. F. Stevens, and M. J. Donoghue. (2008). ''Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach, Third Edition''. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, MA. p. 494.</ref>
[[Image:Holly in Winter.jpg|thumb|A holly bush with a lone red berry in winter.]]
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 milder in taste. 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]] (''Gymnoscelis rufifasciata''). Other [[Lepidoptera]] whose larvae feed on holly include ''[[Bucculatrix ilecella]]'' (which feeds exclusively on hollies) and [[The Engrailed]] (''Ectropis crepuscularia''). The [[Japanese Beetle]] (''Popillia japonica'') is another well-known animal feeding on holly leaves. Also holly is commonly referenced at Christmas time.
Having [[evolution|evolved]] numerous species that are [[endemism|endemic]] to islands and small mountain ranges, and being highly useful plants, many hollies are now becoming rare. [[Tropical]] species are especially often threatened by [[habitat destruction]] and overexploitation, and at least two have become [[extinct]], with numerous others barely surviving.<ref name=iucn>[[International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources]] (IUCN)}} (2007): ''2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species'': [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/search.php?freetext=ilex&modifier=phrase&criteria=wholedb&taxa_species=1&redlistCategory%5B%5D=all&country%5B%5D=all&cty_default=1&aquatic%5B%5D=all&aqu_default=1®ions%5B%5D=all®_default=1&habitats%5B%5D=all&threats%5B%5D=all&redlistAssessyear%5B%5D=all&growths%5B%5D=all ''Ilex'']</ref>
==Selected species<ref>Ulloa Ulloa & Jørgensen (1993), eFloras.org (2007a, b), IUCN (2007), RBGE (2007), USDA (2007a, b)</ref>==
[[Image:Ilex anomala.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Ilex anomala]]'']]
[[Image:Ilex chinensis1.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Ilex chinensis]]'']]
[[Image:Ilex pedunculosa5.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Ilex pedunculosa]]'']]
[[Image:Ilex rotunda5.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Ilex rotunda]]'']]
[[Image:winterberry1.jpg|thumb|right|[[American Winterberry]] (''Ilex verticillata'')]]
[[Image:Yunnan Holly Ilex yunnanensis Sprig 3008px.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Ilex yunnanensis]]'']]
<div float="left">
{{col-begin|width=75%}}
{{col-1-of-3}}
* ''[[Ilex abscondita]]''
* ''[[Ilex acutidenticulata]]''
* ''[[Ilex × altaclarensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex altiplana]]''
* ''[[Ilex ambigua]]'' – [[Sand Holly]]
* ''Ilex amelanchier'' – [[Swamp Holly]]
* ''[[Ilex anomala]]''
* ''[[Ilex anonoides]]''
* ''[[Ilex aquifolium]]'' – European Holly
* ''[[Ilex aracamuniana]]''
* ''[[Ilex arisanensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex bioritsensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex brachyphylla]]''
* ''[[Ilex brasiliensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex brevipedicellata]]''
* ''[[Ilex buergeri]]''
* ''Ilex canariensis'' – [[Small-leaved Holly]]
* ''[[Ilex caniensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex cassine]]'' – Dahoon Holly, Cassena
* ''[[Ilex centrochinensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex cerasifolia]]''
* ''[[Ilex chengkouensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex chinensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex chuniana]]''
* ''[[Ilex ciliolata]]''
* ''[[Ilex ciliospinosa]]''
* ''[[Ilex colchica]]''
* ''[[Ilex collina]]''
* ''[[Ilex conocarpa]]''
* ''Ilex cookii'' – [[Cook's Holly]]
* ''[[Ilex corallina]]''
* ''[[Ilex coriacea]]'' – "[[gallberry]]"<!-- see annotation in gallberry article source -->
* ''[[Ilex cornuta]]'' – [[Chinese Holly]]
* ''[[Ilex costaricensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex cowanii]]''
* ''Ilex crenata'' – [[Japanese Holly]], Box-leaved Holly, ''inutsuge'' ([[Japanese (language)|Japanese]])
* ''[[Ilex cyrtura]]''
* ''[[Ilex dabieshanensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex davidsei]]''
* ''[[Ilex decidua]]'' – [[Meadow Holly]], "[[deciduous holly]]", "[[possumhaw]]", "[[swamp holly]]"
* ''[[Ilex dehongensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex dimorphophylla]]''
* ''[[Ilex diospyroides]]''
* ''[[Ilex dipyrena]]'' – [[Himalayan Holly]]
* ''[[Ilex ericoides]]''
* ''[[Ilex euryoides]]''
* ''[[Ilex fargesii]]''
* ''[[Ilex fengqingensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex florifera]]''
* ''[[Ilex gardneriana]]'' ([[extinct]]: 20th century?)
* ''[[Ilex geniculata]]''
* ''[[Ilex georgei]]''
* ''[[Ilex glabella]]''
* ''[[Ilex glabra]]'' – [[Evergreen Winterberry]], Appalachian Tea, Dye-leaves, "[[gallberry]]", "[[inkberry]]"
* ''[[Ilex gleasoniana]]''
* ''[[Ilex goshiensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex graciliflora]]''
{{col-2-of-3}}
* ''[[Ilex grandiflora]]''
* ''[[Ilex guaiquinimae]]''
* ''Ilex guayusa'' – [[Guayusa]]
* ''[[Ilex harrisii]]''
* ''[[Ilex holstii]]''
* ''[[Ilex huachamacariana]]''
* ''[[Ilex ignicola]]''
* ''[[Ilex illustris]]''
* ''[[Ilex integerrima]]''
* ''[[Ilex integra]]''
* ''[[Ilex intricata]]''
* ''[[Ilex jamaicana]]''
* ''[[Ilex jauaensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex jelskii]]''
* ''[[Ilex karuaiana]]''
* ''[[Ilex khasiana]]''
* ''[[Ilex kingiana]]''
* ''[[Ilex kudingcha]]''
* ''[[Ilex kusanoi]]''
* ''[[Ilex laevigata]]''
* ''[[Ilex lasseri]]''
* ''Ilex latifolia'' – [[Tarajo Holly]], ''tarayō'' (Japanese)
* ''[[Ilex lechleri]]''
* ''[[Ilex leucoclada]]''
* ''[[Ilex longipes]]''
* ''[[Ilex longzhouensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex machilifolia]]''
* ''[[Ilex maclurei]]''
* ''[[Ilex macrocarpa]]''
* ''[[Ilex macropoda]]''
* ''[[Ilex magnifructa]]''
* ''[[Ilex maingayi]]''
* ''[[Ilex marahuacae]]''
* ''[[Ilex marginata]]''
* ''[[Ilex margratesavage]]''
* ''[[Ilex mathewsii]]''
* ''[[Ilex mitis]]''
* ''Ilex montana'' – [[Mountain Winterberry]]
* ''Ilex mucronata'' – [[Mountain Holly]], Catberry
* ''[[Ilex myrtifolia]]'' – [[Myrtle Holly]]
* ''[[Ilex neblinensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex nothofagifolia]]''
* ''[[Ilex oblonga]]''
* ''[[Ilex occulta]]''
* ''Ilex opaca'' – [[American Holly]]
* ''[[Ilex palawanica]]''
* ''[[Ilex pallida]]''
* ''Ilex paraguariensis'' – [[Yerba Mate]], ''erva-mate'' ([[Brazil]])
* ''[[Ilex parvifructa]]''
* ''[[Ilex patens]]''
* ''[[Ilex pauciflora]]''
* ''[[Ilex paujiensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex pedunculosa]]''
* ''[[Ilex peiradena]]''
* ''[[Ilex perado]]'' – [[Madeiran Holly]]
* ''[[Ilex perlata]]''
* ''[[Ilex pernyi]]'' – [[Perny's Holly]]
* ''[[Ilex polita]]''
{{col-3-of-3}}
* ''[[Ilex praetermissa]]''
* ''[[Ilex pringlei]]''
* ''[[Ilex puberula]]''
* ''[[Ilex pubescens]]''
* ''[[Ilex pubiflora]]''
* ''[[Ilex purpurea]]''
* ''[[Ilex qianlingshanensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex quercetorum]]''
* ''[[Ilex rarasanensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex reticulata]]''
* ''[[Ilex rotunda]]''
* ''[[Ilex rugosa]]''
* ''[[Ilex sclerophylla]]''
* ''[[Ilex serrata]]'' – [[Japanese Winterberry]]
* ''[[Ilex sessilifructa]]''
* ''[[Ilex shimeica]]''
* ''[[Ilex sikkimensis]]''
* ''Ilex sintenisii'' – [[Sintenis' Holly]]
* ''[[Ilex sipapoana]]''
* ''[[Ilex socorroensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex spinigera]]''
* ''[[Ilex spruceana]]''
* ''[[Ilex steyermarkii]]''
* ''[[Ilex subrotundifolia]]''
* ''[[Ilex subtriflora]]''
* ''[[Ilex sugerokii]]''
* ''[[Ilex sulcata]]''
* ''[[Ilex syzygiophylla]]''
* ''[[Ilex tahanensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex tateana]]''
* ''[[Ilex taubertiana]]''
* ''[[Ilex ternatiflora]]'' ([[extinct]]: 20th century?)
* ''[[Ilex theezans]]''
* ''[[Ilex tiricae]]''
* ''[[Ilex tolucana]]''
* ''[[Ilex trachyphylla]]''
* ''[[Ilex trichocarpa]]''
* ''[[Ilex tugitakayamensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex uraiensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex vaccinoides]]''
* ''[[Ilex venezuelensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex venulosa]]''
* ''Ilex verticillata'' – [[American Winterberry]], Virginian Winterberry, Michigan Holly, Winterberry Holly, Black Alder Winterberry, Deciduous Winterberry, Fever Bush, Brook Alder, False Alder, Striped Alder, "[[Black Alder]]", "[[coralberry]]", "[[deciduous holly]]", "[[inkberry]]", "[[possumhaw]]", "[[swamp holly]]", "[[White Alder]]"
* ''Ilex vomitoria'' – [[Yaupon Holly]], ''casseena'' ([[Spanish (language)|Spanish]])
* ''[[Ilex vulcanicola]]''
* ''[[Ilex wenchowensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex williamsii]]''
* ''[[Ilex wilsonii]]''
* ''[[Ilex yunnanensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex wugonshanensis]]''
* ''[[Ilex yuiana]]''
{{col-end}}
</div>
<!-- [please proper uzp this crappy code]
Sources:<ref name=iucn/><ref>[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?6018 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Ilex'' species list]</ref><ref>[http://www.efloras.org/browse.aspx?flora_id=3&start_taxon_id=116366 Flora of China: ''Ilex'' species list]</ref><ref>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=201&taxon_id=116366 Flora of Ecuador: ''Ilex'']</ref><ref>[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]</ref><ref>[http://www.efloras.org/browse.aspx?flora_id=110&start_taxon_id=116366 Flora of Nepal: ''Ilex'' species list]</ref><ref>[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ILEX USDA Plants Profile: ''Ilex'']</ref>
-->
==Etymology==
The origin of the word "holly" is [[Old English language|Old English]] {{lang|ang|''holegn''}}, which is related to [[Old High German]] {{lang|goh|''hulis''}}. The [[French language|French]] word for holly, {{lang|fr|''houx''}}, derives from the Old High German word, as do [[Low German]]/[[Low Franconian]] terms like ''Hülse'' or ''hulst''. These [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] words appear to be related to words for holly in [[Celtic languages]], such as [[Welsh language|Welsh]] {{lang|cy|''celyn''}} and [[Irish language|Irish]] {{lang|ga|''cuilleann''}}.
The botanical name ''ilex'' was the original [[Latin]] name for the [[Holm Oak]] (''Quercus ilex''), which has similar foliage to common holly, and is occasionally confused with it.
==Uses==
[[Image:VariegatedHollyBush.jpg|thumb|left|Trunk and leaves of a [[variegated]] holly bush.]]
In many western cultures, holly is a traditional [[Christmas]] decoration, used especially in [[wreath]]s. The [[wood]] is heavy, hard and whitish; 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:Calabaza2.jpg|thumb|right|A ''[[Calabash|calabaza]]'' of [[Mate (beverage)|Mate]].]]
Many of the hollies are highly decorative, and are widely used as [[ornamental plant]]s in [[garden]]s and [[park]]s. Several [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]]s and numerous [[cultivar]]s have been developed for garden use, among them the very popular ''[[Ilex × altaclerensis]]'' (''I. aquifolium'' × ''I. perado'') and ''[[Ilex × meserveae]]'' (''I. aquifolium'' × ''I. rugosa'').<ref name=rhs>Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.</ref> Hollies are often used by homeowners and [[landscape architect]]s for [[hedge (barrier)|hedges]]; the sharp thorns of many species deter unauthorised persons from entering private properties, and may prevent break-ins if planted under windows and near drainpipes. The aesthetic characteristics of holly plants, in conjunction with their home security qualities, makes them a good choice for [[hedge (barrier)|hedges]].<ref>Northumbria Police: [http://ww2.northumbria.police.uk/ePolicing/Web/WMS.nsf/CrimeReductionContentDocs/CRD000301 Security starts at the Garden Gate]</ref>
Between the thirteenth and eighteenth century, before the introduction of [[turnip]]s, holly was cultivated for use as [[festive ecology|winter fodder]] for cattle and sheep.<ref>Spray, M. (1981). Holly as a Fodder in England. ''Agricultural History Review'' 29 (2): 97. Available [http://www.bahs.org.uk/29n2a3.pdf online] (pdf file). British Agricultural History Society.</ref> Less spiny varieties of holly were preferred, and in practice the leaves growing near the top of the tree have far fewer spines making them more suitable for fodder.
Several holly species are used to make [[caffeine]]-rich [[herbal tea]]s. The [[South America]]n [[Yerba Mate]] (''I. paraguariensis'') is boiled for the popular revigorating drinks [[Mate (beverage)|Mate]], and ''[[Chimarrão]]'', and steeped in water for the cold ''[[Tereré]]''. [[Guayusa]] (''I. guayusa'') is used both as a stimulant and as an admixture to the [[entheogen]]ic tea [[ayahuasca]]; its leaves have the highest known caffeine content of any plant. In [[North America|North]] and [[Central America]], [[Yaupon]] (''I. vomitoria''), was used by southeastern [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] as a ceremonial stimulant and [[emetic]] known as "the [[black drink]]"<ref>[[Cherokee language|Cherokee]]: ''Gvnega adatasti'' (ᎬᏁᎦ ᎠᏓᏔᏍᏘ), ''Asi'' (ᎠᏏ).</ref>. As the name suggests, the tea's purgative properties were one of its main uses, most often ritually. [[Evergreen Winterberry]] (Appalachian Tea, ''I. glabra'') is a milder substitute for Yaupon. 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 [[kǔdīng chá]] (苦丁茶, roughly "bitter spikeleaf tea").
==References==
{{commonscat|Ilex}}
{{Wiktionarypar|ilex}}
{{reflist}}
<gallery>
Image:Ilex anomala.jpg|''Ilex anomala''
Image:Ilex chinensis1.jpg|''Ilex chinensis''
Image:Ilex pedunculosa5.jpg|''Ilex pedunculosa''
Image:Ilex rotunda5.jpg|''Ilex rotunda''
Image:winterberry1.jpg|''Ilex verticillata''
Image:Yunnan Holly Ilex yunnanensis Sprig 3008px.jpg|''Ilex yunnanensis''
Image:Contorted Hedgehog Holly.JPG|A contorted hedgehog holly.
</gallery>
[[Category:Ilex|*]]
[[Category:Christmas plants]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Winter traditions]]
[[da:Kristtorn]]
[[de:Stechpalmen]]
[[es:Ilex]]
[[fr:Ilex]]
[[it:Ilex]]
[[lt:Bugienis]]
[[nl:Ilex]]
[[ja:モチノキ科]]
[[no:Kristtorn]]
[[pl:Ostrokrzew]]
[[ru:Падуб]]
[[simple:Holly]]
[[sv:Järnekar]]
[[zh:冬青]]