Aquifoliaceae

Holly Family

By George Rogers

A family of four genera and a few hundred species. Small trees or shrubs having alternate, usually thick, leathery leaves often with toothy margins.  Flowers small, white, with 4 sepals, 4 petals, and 4 stamens. Fruits small and berrylike (small drupes), usually with four stones, often red or black.

Key to Aquifoliaceae Cultivated in South Florida

1. Usually trees (or large shrubs); leaf blades >1.5” long; fruits reddish (female plants)…Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine)

[Note: Ilex Xattenuata is commonly cultivated hybrid complex with I. cassine as one parent and A. opaca as the other. The hybrid differs from Ilex cassine by having usually more pronounced teeth on the leaves, more profuse fruits, and a straight main axis (vs. shrubby silhouette).]

1. Usually shrubs (rarely small trees in our area); leaf blades <1.5” long; fruits black (female plants)…2

2. Leaf blades with subtly scalloped margins; plants often encountered as clipped hedges or clumps; often fruitless (‘Schellings Dwarf’ is a male cultivar)…Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)

2. Leaf blades with a few inconspicuous teeth toward the tip…Gallberry (Ilex glabra) (Frequent in pine flatwoods, rarely cultivated)