American
Holly
(11ex
opaca A it.)
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American
Holly, sometimes called Christmas holly, occurs sparingly throughout
the state, from coastal floodplains to 4,500 foot elevations in
the mountains. It grows best on a rich, moist soil but also is
found in higher and drier conditions.
It has spiny, wavy-edged, glossy, dark green leaves, which (along
with its bright red berries) make it highly valued for Christmas
decorations. The leaves are green through the winter; each leaf
stays on the tree for three years. They are 2 to 4 inches long,
with prominent midribs and veins.
The spherical fruit, produced only on female trees, ripens in
the late autumn and remains on the tree over the winter. Each
bright red, fleshy berry is attached to a short stalk.
The bark is light gray and roughened by wart-like growths. The
tree usually reaches 15 to 40 feet in height and 1 to 2 feet in
diameter. The wood is light and tough but is not strong. It is
close grained and bone-colored, which makes it valuable for various
kinds of interior finishing and for inlays in joiner-cabinet work.
The bitter-tasting berries are food for songbirds, deer, wild
turkeys and a wide variety of other animals. |
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