Dahoon Holly
Habit
The dahoon holly is a large shrub or small tree, reaching about 20-30 feet in height, with a 12-15 inch diameter trunk. It has slender ascending branches which form a low, broad, rounded crown.
Leaves
Leaves are simple, alternate, and
persistent. The leaves are 1.5-3 inches in length and have a wedge-shaped
base. The leaf margins are entire or toothed above the middle of the leaf
toward the apex. At first the leaves are pubescent, becoming glabrous as
the plant matures. Leaves are dark green above and paler green
below. The leaf petioles are short, stout and swollen at the base.
Flowers
This plant is dioecious. Individual flowers are in clusters on short
stalks.
Fruit
Fruit is a spherical, red, drupe, about 1/4 inch in diameter. It contains
several 1-seeded nutlets. .
Twigs
The twigs are slender, pubescent through about 3 seasons, then becoming brown and glabrous. The pith is small and homogeneous.
Bark
The bark is gray and rough.
Habitat
The dahoon holly grows near
swamps; on moist, fertile soils with other hardwoods; sometimes on sandy
ridges. This plant occurs from southeast