Summary ⁵

Ilex decidua (meadow holly, also called "possumhaw", "deciduous holly" or "swamp holly") is a species of holly native to the United States.

Description ⁶

Distinguishing features of this species are crenateleaf margins and fruitingpedicels that are 2–8 mm long. Its "distinctive leaf shape... is less variable than other species of holly". Leaves are obovate, simple, alternating, deciduous, and grow to 2.5-7.5 cm long.

Drupe fruits are red (or rarely yellow), shiny, and globose (spherical, or nearly so), with a diameter of 4–8 mm. The pulp is bitter; they contain 3-5 seeds and mature in autumn.

Slender twigs are glabrous and silvery gray, with numerous spur shoots, pointed lateral buds, and acuminate scales.

Bark is "light brown to gray" in color and may be smooth or "warty and roughened".

Distribution and ecology ⁶

Ilex decidua is a common plant, growing in the US in Alabama, Arkansas, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

It grows in the northern Mexico states of Chihuahua and Coahuila.

It prefers land in floodplains and the margins of swamps or lakes, and grows at elevations up to about 360 m. Other plant species with which possumhaw is associated include water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), overcup oak (Quercus lyrata), bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and hackberry (Celtis spp.).

The fruits attract songbirds and small mammals. Deer browse on young twigs.

External links ⁶

Media related to Ilex decidua at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Ilex decidua at Wikispecies

Human use ⁶

Because of the attractive "berries", the tree is used as a winter ornamental plant, and branches are collected for use as Christmas decorations.
The wood is not useful commercially because of the tree's small size.

Summary ⁶

Ilex decidua (meadow holly, also called "possumhaw", "deciduous holly" or "swamp holly") is a species of holly native to the United States.

Fontes e Créditos

1. (c) charley, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), uploaded by charley
2. (c) Maggie, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/13389908@N03/1702988058/
3. (c) sonnia hill, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/carthamus/49563158922/
4. (c) Phillip Merritt, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/phillipmerritt/188375392/
5. Adaptado por Tricia LeBlanc de uma obra de (c) Wikipedia, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilex_decidua
6. (c) Wikipedia, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilex_decidua

Mais informações

• BioDiversity4All taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• World Flora Online

BioDiversity4All Mapa