{"id":5608,"date":"2020-12-03T09:08:06","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T09:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/herbarium\/?p=5608"},"modified":"2020-12-12T12:02:30","modified_gmt":"2020-12-12T12:02:30","slug":"adventbotany-2020-day-3-ilex-or-holly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/herbarium\/2020\/12\/03\/adventbotany-2020-day-3-ilex-or-holly\/","title":{"rendered":"#AdventBotany 2020 Day 3 – Ilex<\/i> or Holly"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Alastair Culham<\/a>
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Ilex<\/em> is the only genus in the family Aquifoliacaeae. <\/span><\/h3>\n

In Europe we know Holly (Ilex aquifolium<\/em>) which is the third of our Christmas evergreens alongside Ivy and Mistletoe. Holly was brought in to houses in pagan times to keep evil out but was then adopted by Christians as a representative of the crown of thorns at Christ\u2019s crucifixion. However there are around 400 different holly species and many do not have prickly leaves. Ilex paraguariensis<\/em> is used to make the infusion Mate, the caffeine rich national drink of Argentina. In contrast, Ilex crenata<\/em> is grown in Japan, China and Korea as a small decorative shrub used in complex topiary displays.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Two
Botanical illustrations of Ilex paraguariensis (Mate) and Ilex aquifolium (Common Holly)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Common European Holly<\/h3>\n

Hiolly has numerous cultivars varying in the pricklyness of the leaves, colour of the berries and variegation of the leaves. Some cultivars are chosen to be extra pricly while others for their distinct lack of prickles.\u00a0 The photos below show three of the Hollies growing in the Harris Garden.\u00a0 Ilex aquifolium and several of its cultivars are RHS AGM<\/a> plants.<\/p>\n