The American holly, Ilex opaca, is endemic to the eastern United States. It is a broadleaved, evergreen tree growing to as much as 65 feet tall. As do many hollies, the leaves of the American holly have spines around their rim. The consensus is that they are a deterrent to herbivores (predominately ungulates). One paper by J. R. Obeso in 1996 concludes that the absence of browsing ungulates during a one year period significantly decreased the spinescence of leaves in the subsequent year. I like the word “spinescence.”
Holly Leaves
Posted under Flowers and Plants
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Tuesday, December 03, 2013, Holly Leaves
See link to my blog in my bio, where there is more detail about each photo.
See link to my blog in my bio, where there is more detail about each photo.