The evergreen holly is a native species which forms the shrub layer in some of our oldest woods. You may look for it in woodland, or in the narrow gullies of the Sperrins or Donegal uplands, where holly and rowan can survive the harsh upland conditions.Holly belongs to the genus Ilex and is a member of the Holly family (Aquifoliaceae).
Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is a broadleaved, evergreen tree growing up to 20m and flowering May to August.
Lifespan: 200–300 years.
Characteristics
Bark is smooth and thin. Leaves are alternate, dark green, glossy and oval, with wavy margins that terminate in prickly spines. Leaves at the top of the tree are usually spineless. Each leaf can live two to three years.
Holly is dioecious, which means that male and female flowers are found on different individual trees. Flowers have four white petals (approx. 6mm). Male flowers have four stamens and female flowers have a central, green, four-carpel ovary with four styles. Fruits are stalked scarlet berries (7–12mm). Holly is insect pollinated.
Holly is very rarely hermaphrodite with ‘perfect’ flowers where both sexes are represented in one flower. Holly can also reproduce vegetatively from root suckers.
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