deciduous holly
Ilex decidua Walter
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Form & Habitat
deciduous holly form and habitat deciduous holly form and habitat
Leaves
deciduous holly leaves deciduous holly leaves deciduous holly leaves
Twigs
deciduous holly twig deciduous holly twig
Bark
deciduous holly bark
Flowers
deciduous holly flowers deciduous holly flowers deciduous holly flowers deciduous holly flowers deciduous holly flower
Fruit
deciduous holly drupe deciduous holly fruit deciduous holly drupe deciduous holly drupe
  • FAMILY: AQUIFOLIACEAE
  • ALTERNATE COMMON NAME: possum-haw
  • LEAVES:deciduous, simple, alternate; blades typically oblanceolate, to ca. 2” long by 1” wide (variable); margins appressed-crenate
  • FLOWER: functionally unisexual and dioecious, born on current year’s growth, staminate flowers born in umbels, pistillate flowers solitary or paired; flowers with 4 (-5) sepals and petals, petals whitish, <0.25” long, flowering in April
  • FRUIT: orange-red globose drupe ca. 1/4" broad, maturing in fall and persisting on plants into winter
  • TWIGS: plants usually have many spur shoots, these often bearing flowers and sometimes with reduced leaves
  • BARK: smooth, gray, mottled
  • FORM: large shrub typically with multiple stems
  • HABITAT: bottomland hardwood forests, mesic rich-soil uplands, present on old and young landscapes
  • WETLAND DESIGNATION: Facultative Wetland (FACW): Usually occurs in wetlands, but may occur in non-wetlands of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Plain Region
  • RANGE: southeastern US  [USGS Range Map]  [MAP]
  • USES: ornamental
    • Best Recognition Features:
    1. multi-stemmed shrub with smooth gray bark
    2. leaves oblanceolate with crenate margin
    3. abundant spur branches
    4. orange-red drupe (persistent into winter after leaves have fallen)
    LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources

    School of Renewable Natural Reources    		 Louisiana Plant Identification and Interactive Virtual Tours
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    LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources
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