Ilex L. (1753), holly, contains around 400 species throughout the world, in the family Aquifoliaceae.

Description Trees to 25m, or shrubs, usually with smooth bark. The leaves are usually alternate, evergreen, less often deciduous, undivided but sometimes deeply spiny, stiff and leathery. The flowers are small and white, yellowish, green, purplish, or reddish, in clusters in the leaf axils, unisexual, the males and females usually on separate trees. Sepals 4–8, joined at the base; petals 3–8, joined at the base. Stamens 4–8, attached to the base of the petals. Carpels 2–9, fused, with 1 or 2 ovules each. Pollination is by insects. The fruits are fleshy berries, red or black when ripe, with 2–10, sometimes more, hard-coated seeds.

Key Recognition Features The small flowers and, in typical species, the leathery, shiny leaves.

Evolution and Relationships There is very little agreement on the position of this family. Many authorities put it close to Celastraceae and to Aceraceae, in the order Sapindales, not in the Theales, as here.

Ecology and Geography In usually moist woods, and in swamps. Around 15 species are found wild in North America, about 20 in Japan, only 2 in Australia. Around 50 species and very many cultivars are cultivated in temperate gardens.

Comment Common or English holly, Ilex aquifolium L., has produced many garden varieties with striking leaves, while the deciduous North American Ilex verticillata L. is showy when the bare twigs are laden with shining red berries; its leaves can be made into tea. Cultivars of these with yellow fruits or bisexual flowers are also grown. Ilex paraguayensis A. St.-Hil. provides matι, a popular South American tea. Holly timber is white and hard, and was used for veneers.