West Highland Flora

Holly


Ilex aquifolium

 

Ilex aquifolium

Photo © Carl Farmer
18 Oct 2003 Portree, Skye

Widespread in woods and beside burns, but never very numerous.

Evergreen shrub typically 3-6 m high.  Leaves c 4-8 cm long.

ID: Twisted spiny leaves are instantly recognisable.

Other features: Upper leaves are without spines (pics below).  Separate male and female plants.  Both have clusters of white 4-petalled flowers, and the female ones produce berries that are green when young and red when ripe.

 

Ilex aquifolium

Photo © Carl Farmer
12 May 2004 Kyleakin, Skye

  Ilex aquifolium

Photo © Carl Farmer
12 May 2004 Kyleakin, Skye
Flower c 8 mm across

Cluster of flower buds with one open with 4 stamens, showing it to be a male.  The upper, non-spiny, leaves of this bush were accessible due to the steepness of the ground.
 

Ilex aquifolium

Photo © Carl Farmer
14 Aug 2004 Torrin, Skye

  Ilex aquifolium

Photo © Carl Farmer
14 Aug 2004 Torrin, Skye
Picture c 4.2 cm wide

Female bush with green summer berries.  This one was only c 2.5 m tall and had spiny leaves to the top.


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