| All members of the holly family are shrubs or small trees. Worldwide there are more than 300 species, nearly all of the holly genus are in tropical and temperate regions. There are 14 native trees and two native shrubs in this country. The Escambia region is populated with six; Carolina Holly, Serviceberry (occasional), Possumhaw, Myrtle Dahoon, American Holly and Yaupon. The most popular are American Holly and Yaupon, probably because they are quickly and easily recognized. |
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| Dahoon Holly is an evergeeen shrub or small tree. Its preferred habitat is moist or well-drained soils, flood plains and in mixed hardwood forests. These leaves are egg-shaped, spreading in two rows along the stem, widest at the middle, spiny pointed and course spiny teeth on the margin; thick, stiff and leathery. New growth leaves do not bear spines, but don't put all your trust in that. Flowers are small with four rounded creamy-white petals arising from the base of new growth leaves and along new growth twigs. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. The bright red fruit is matured in the fall and is a popular Christmas decoration. The wood of holly is valuable for making cabinets, inlays and carvings. |
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| Yaupon is a much-branched, thicket-forming evergreen shrub or small tree. The crown is open and irregular; small shiny leaves and an abundance of shiny red berries in the fall. Like American Holly, the branches are eagerly gathered as a Christmas decoration. Yaupon is sometimes grown for ornament and takes well to trimming as a hedge. Native Americans used the caffeine bearing leaves to prepare a tea to induce vomiting and as a laxative. This practice is continued today at the Creek Reservation in south Alabama and the ceremony is attended by large numbers of Indians from the interior who come to celebrate the cleansing rites. |
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| Carolina Holly is a deciduous shrub or small tree with an irregular crown; rarely reaching a height of more than 20 feet. The leaves are about two inches long and less than one inch wide; widest at the middle, slightly hairy, fine, soft and wavy-toothed. The flowers may have five petals instead of the usual four, as is characteristic of the Holly family. Unlike American Holly and Yaupon, this plant sheds its leaves at the first sign of autumn thus leaving its bright red fruit exposed. The berries of Carolina Holly are slightly egg-shaped rather than round. The Latin species name ambigua means to be ambiguous or doubtful, suggesting uncertainty in the classification when the species was first discovered and described. |
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Dahoon Holly is an evergreen shrub or small tree with
a rounded, dense crown. Trunk diameter is no more than 12 inches
and height is usually about 30 feet. The twigs of this shrub/tree
are covered with silky hairs that turn brown in autumn at the
same time the bright red fruit is matured. The shrub is generally
restricted to coastal regions from North Carolina, all of Florida
and west to Louisiana; rare- ly at elevations beyond 200 feet. Dahoon is often planted as an ornamental for the evergreen foliage and profuse red berries that are used in Christmas decorations. The common name is of American Indian origin. The closely related Myrtle-leaf Holly will be discussed in another section. That shrub has a lance-like leaf, whereas Dahoon is more egg-shaped. |
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Common Gallberry is also known as Bitter Gallberry and Bitter Inkberry. This plant forms extensive collonies through its rhizomatous root system, especially on burned over forests. The leaves are typical holly; smooth, shiny above with glandular dots on the underside. Mature fruit is a blue/black berry that matures in autumn. The fruit is consumed by wildlife. Preferred habitat is pine woods, thickets, savannas, bog margins and sandy flats. |
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In olden times the stalks were dried, bundled, called "brush brooms," and used for sweeping leaves and debris from yards and walkways. The related Sweet Gallberry is distinguished by the scattered teeth on its leaf margins and the twigs are often reddish. |
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