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Ilex aquifolium

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Aquifoliales Family: Aquifoliaceae Genus: Ilex

English holly, European holly

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Evergreen shrubs or small trees 2–10 m tall.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades ovate or elliptic, 5-12 cm long, 2.5-5.5 cm wide. Surfaces glabrous dark green. Margins usually thickened, undulate, regularly or irregularly toothed, the teeth stiff, spreading, spinose, rarely entire. Petiolate. Stipules minute.

Flowers: Flowers in fasciculate cymes, along previous year's growth, up to ca. 1 cm long. Peduncles flattened, 0.3–0.5 cm long. Flowers unisexual, occasionally some of the flowers appearing bisexual (perfect); fragrant; pedicels ca. 2–6 mm long with 2 bracteoles below the middle, these 2–3 mm long. Calyx lobes 4, deltate, ca. 1.5–2 mm long. Corolla lobes ca. 4 mm long, usually as many as sepals. Stamens as many as petals, inserted at the base of the corolla, staminodia in pistillate flowers similar to fertile stamens, but usually smaller. Ovary superior; 4-celled.

Fruit: Fruit drupaceous; with as many 1–seeded pyrenes as carpels. fruit bright red; 8–10 mm in diameter. Seeds with abundant oily or proteinaceous endosperm.

Ploidy: 2n = 40; ca. 46

Habitat: now naturalized at the edge of degraded wet forest and spreading via game birds.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (145)

Aquifolium croceum Raf. (1838)
Aquifolium ferox Mill. ex Rafin. (1838)
Aquifolium heterophyllum Raf. (1838)
Aquifolium ilex Scop. (1771)
Aquifolium lanceolatum Raf. (1838)
Aquifolium planifolium Raf. (1838)
Aquifolium spinosum Lam. (1779)
Aquifolium undulatum Raf. (1838)
Aquifolium vulgare St.-Lag. (1880)
Ilex aquifolium f. albopicta (Loudon) Geerinck (2001)
Ilex aquifolium f. arbutifolia (T.Moore) Loes. (1901)
Ilex aquifolium f. argentea-marginata (T.Moore) Schelle (1903)
Ilex aquifolium f. aureopicta (Loudon) Geerinck (2001)
Ilex aquifolium f. bacciflavum (Weston) Rehder (1949)
Ilex aquifolium f. ferox (Aiton) C.K.Schneid. (1907)
Ilex aquifolium f. frivaldskyana Loes. (1901)
Ilex aquifolium f. heterophylla (Aiton) Loes. (1901)
Ilex aquifolium f. pendula (Loudon) Schelle (1903)
Ilex aquifolium f. pyramidalis Schelle (1903)
Ilex aquifolium pendula-variegata Van Geert (1858)
Ilex aquifolium subf. pendula (Loudon) Loes. (1901)
Ilex aquifolium var. albolineata T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. albomarginata Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. albopicta Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. alcicornis T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. algarviensis Chodat (1909)
Ilex aquifolium var. angustifolia Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. arbutifolia T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-elegantissima T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-erecta T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-latifolia T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-longifolia T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-lucida T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-marginata T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-marginata-major T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-medio-picta T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-pectinata-major T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-pectinata-minor T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-pendula T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-purpurea T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-regina T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-stricta T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. argentea-varians T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. atrovirens T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. aureomarginata Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. aureopicta Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. bacciflavum Weston (1775)
Ilex aquifolium var. balearica T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. barcinonae Pau (1922)
Ilex aquifolium var. beetii T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. belgica T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. bicolor T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. calamistrata Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. canadensis Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. carnola Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. ciliata Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. ciliata-major T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. ciliata-minor Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. compacta T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. crassifolia Aiton (1789)
Ilex aquifolium var. crispa Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. dipirena Laurentius (1868)
Ilex aquifolium var. doningtonensis T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. elegans Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. elliptica T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. ferox Aiton (1789)
Ilex aquifolium var. ferox-argentea Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. ferox-aurea Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. fisheri T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. foxii T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. fructu-albo Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. fructu-aurantiaco T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. fructu-luteo Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. fructu-nigro Loudon (1842)
Ilex aquifolium var. furcata Laurentius (1868)
Ilex aquifolium var. grandifolia T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. handsworthensis T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. hastata T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. hendersonii T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. heterophylla Aiton (1789)
Ilex aquifolium var. heterophyllum Rchb. (1831)
Ilex aquifolium var. hybrida T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. ingramii T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. integrifolia Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. laetevirens Sennen
Ilex aquifolium var. latifolia Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. latispina Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. laucifolia T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. laurifolia Lej. (1825)
Ilex aquifolium var. lineata T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. longifolia-maculata T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. maderensis Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. magnifica T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. marginata Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. microphylla T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. monstrosa Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. myrtifolia Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. nigra T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. nigrescens T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. nigricans Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. nobilis Laurentius (1868)
Ilex aquifolium var. obscura T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. ovata T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. pendula Loudon (1842)
Ilex aquifolium var. pendula-alba-marginata C.Pynaert (1893)
Ilex aquifolium var. pendula-aurea-marginata C.Pynaert (1893)
Ilex aquifolium var. pendula-aurea-picta C.Pynaert (1893)
Ilex aquifolium var. perryana-major T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. platyphylla Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. polymorpha Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. recurva Aiton (1789)
Ilex aquifolium var. revoluta Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. rigida T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. rotundifolia Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. scotica T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. senescens Gaudin (1828)
Ilex aquifolium var. serratifolia Loudon (1829)
Ilex aquifolium var. serratifolia-albomarginata T.Moore (1875)
Ilex aquifolium var. smithiana T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. thunbergiana Göpp. (1852)
Ilex aquifolium var. tortuosa T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. trapeziformis T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. variegata Loudon (1838)
Ilex aquifolium var. virens T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. vulgaris Aiton (1789)
Ilex aquifolium var. whittingtonensis T.Moore (1874)
Ilex aquifolium var. wiseana T.Moore (1875)
Ilex balearica Desf. (1809)
Ilex balearica var. cordata Göpp. (1852)
Ilex camelliifolia (K.Koch) A.Henry (1913)
Ilex chrysocarpa Wender. (1828)
Ilex ciliata A.Vilm. (1860)
Ilex citriocarpa Murr (1912)
Ilex crassifolia Aiton ex Steud. (1840)
Ilex echinata Mill. (1768)
Ilex ferox Aiton ex Steud. (1840)
Ilex fischeri Carrière (1887)
Ilex maderensis Willd. (1814)
Ilex myrtifolia var. aureomaculata Van Geert (1875)
Ilex nigricans (Göpp.) A.Henry (1913)
Ilex perado subsp. iberica (Loes.) S.Andrews (1984)
Ilex perado var. iberica Loes. (1901)
Ilex platyphylla Booth (1854)
Ilex sempervirens Salisb. (1796)
Ilex vulgaris Gray (1822)

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Pumehana Imada
  • Native to southern and western Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, widely cultivated; in Hawai‘i occasionally cultivated and now naturalized.

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 125 (1753)

Other References

Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., & Sohmer, S. H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, Vols. 1 and 2 (No. Edn 2). University of Hawai'i and Bishop Museum Press.

Wagner et al. 1990:222 (H); Wagner & Herbst 1995:15 (EM); Staples & Herbst 2005:129 (KEY), 130 (DESCR)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Ilex aquifolium L. e maui, ukulele, above olinda, several persisting from old garden around ruins of old dairy PRESERVED_SPECIMEN f. r. fosberg 51784 Maui US 12/11/1969
2 Ilex aquifolium L. East Maui, Makawao District, Olinda Prison Camp area PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tanabe, L. 37 Maui BISH 1/2/1961
3 Ilex aquifolium L. Haiku Uka Olinda. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St.John, H. BISH 8/4/1943
4 Ilex aquifolium L. Mauna Kea, Puaakala, Shipman Estate PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 8816 Hawaii BISH 2/20/1987
5 Ilex aquifolium L. East Maui, Makawao District, Old homestead above Olinda PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Mitchell, A.L. 70 Maui BISH 9/30/1945
6 Ilex aquifolium L. Waimea Canyon State Park; cultivated plants from cabins near Kokee Methodist Camp PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Flynn, T. 2041 Hawaii BISH 12/30/1986
7 Ilex aquifolium L. Mauna Kea, Puaakala, Shipman Estate PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 8814 Hawaii BISH 2/20/1987
8 Ilex aquifolium L. East Maui, Haiku Uka Olinda PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St. John, H. 20360 Maui BISH 8/4/1943
9 Ilex aquifolium L. Waimea Canyon State Park; cultivated plants from cabins near Kokee Methodist Camp PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Flynn, T. Hume, L.; Wood, K. Collector Number: 2041 Hawaii BISH 12/30/1986
10 Ilex aquifolium L. East Maui, Makawao District, Old homestead above Olinda PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Mitchell, A.L. Collector Number: 70 Maui BISH 9/30/1945
11 Ilex aquifolium L. Top gulch crossing, Kahaka pao loop trail, Makawao Forest Reserve Vegetation: Peperomia, Coprosma foliosa, Acacia koa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. 041226-1 Maui BISH 12/26/2004
12 Ilex aquifolium L. Mauna Kea, Puaakala, Shipman Estate PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. Collector Number: 8816 Hawaii BISH 2/20/1987
13 Ilex aquifolium L. mauna kea, puaakala, shipman estate PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. collector number: 8814 Hawaii BISH 2/20/1987
14 Ilex aquifolium L. east maui, makawao district, old homestead above olinda PRESERVED_SPECIMEN mitchell, a.l. collector number: 70 Maui BISH 9/30/1945
15 Ilex aquifolium L. mauna kea, puaakala, shipman estate PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. collector number: 8816 Hawaii BISH 2/20/1987
16 Ilex aquifolium L. East Maui, Makawao District, Olinda Prison Camp area PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tanabe, L. Collector Number: 37 Maui BISH 1/2/1961
17 Ilex aquifolium L. Mauna Kea, Puaakala, Shipman Estate PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. Collector Number: 8815 Hawaii BISH 2/20/1987
18 Ilex aquifolium L. mauna kea, puaakala, shipman estate PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. collector number: 8815 Hawaii BISH 2/20/1987
19 Ilex aquifolium L. east maui, makawao district, olinda prison camp area PRESERVED_SPECIMEN tanabe, l. collector number: 37 Maui BISH 1/2/1961
20 Ilex aquifolium L. top gulch crossing, kahaka pao loop trail, makawao forest reserve PRESERVED_SPECIMEN starr, f. starr, k. collector number: 041226-1 Oahu BISH 12/26/2004
21 Ilex aquifolium L. Mauna Kea, Puaakala, Shipman Estate PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. Collector Number: 8814 Hawaii BISH 2/20/1987
22 Ilex aquifolium L. Waimea Canyon State Park. Cultivated plants from cabins near Kokee Methodist Camp. Elev. ca 3400 ft. Cultivated. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 2041 Kauai PTBG 12/30/1986
23 Ilex aquifolium L. Kalialinui, vicinity of U kulele camp. In pastures and among Eucalyptus plantings. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H80208 Maui PTBG 8/17/2002
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