|
Gallberry or Inkberry
Ilex glabra (L.) A. Gray
(EYE-leks GLAY-bra)
|
|
General:
This clump-forming
evergreen is a member of the Holly Family, 2-3 m. (6-9 ft.) tall.
The plants form attractive thickets with their shiny leaves and black
berries in flatwoods. A few blunt teeth near the leaf apex help
distinguish this species.
The common name tells
us that the berries are “as bitter as gall.” The scientific name,
glabra, means “smooth, without hairs” referring to the smooth leaves.
Several cultivars are
available at nurseries indicating that they are desirable in the
landscape trade. Clumps may be transplanted into a landscape if
the tops are pruned.
It has been used in
folk medicine in conjunction with Gnaphalium to treat flu. The
flowers are desirable for honey production.
Flowers/Fruit:
This shrub is dioecious
(the male and female flowers are found on separate plants.) The 6
petaled white flowers form in the leaf axils in the springtime.
The fruit is a bitter tasting, black drupe, 4-6 mm. (¼
in.) in diameter.
Leaves/Stems:
The leaves are
alternate, simple, and 2-5 cm. (1-2 in.) long. The margins are toothed
or notched toward the tip. The top surface is medium green and
lustrous, but underneath it is lighter in color with tiny reddish
glands that can be seen with magnification. The stems often have a
velvety pubescent.
Distribution:
The leaves are
alternate, simple, and 2-5 cm. (1-2 in.) long. The margins are toothed
or notched toward the tip. The top surface is medium green and
lustrous, but underneath it is lighter in color with tiny reddish
glands that can be seen with magnification. The stems often have
a velvety pubescent.
|
|
|
