What Ilex? Large reddish-orange berries on 2-3cm peduncles

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by wcutler, May 25, 2016.

  1. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    The leaves are shiny and seemed to have only one spine, at the tip; it wasn't till I looked at my photos that I saw some leaves with three spines and realized this might be Ilex. The fruit stems seem longer than usual for hollies, but not as long as on Ilex pedunculosa.

    I'm interested in the genus, species, cultivar name if that's possible.
    Ilex_3725W24thHighbury_Cutler_20160524_142525.jpg Ilex_3725W24thHighbury_Cutler_20160524_142414.jpg Ilex_3725W24thHighbury_Cutler_20160524_142349.jpg
     
  2. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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  3. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    Thanks, Silver surfer. I thought I knew that one, and recognize the leaves as looking like this photo:
    File:1114-Ilex pernyi-BZ Brno-8.12.JPG - Wikimedia Commons
    The Vancouver Trees app describes it as having "spectacularly sharp-spined small leaves ... triangular-pointed".

    All the leaves in my second photo have only a single not so obvious spine at the tip of leaves that have rounded edges.
     
  4. thanrose

    thanrose Active Member 10 Years

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    I'm on the other side of the continent, but it looks like Burford holly to me, or Ilex cornuta "burfordii". It's mostly the quilty looking leaves and veining, shinier than Ilex opaca, and showy clusters of berries that look like it to me, but I don't know how widespread Burford holly is in cultivation.
     
  5. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    Thanks, @thanrose. That's pretty convincing. I thought Ilex cornuta 'Needlepoint' looked like an even better match in the fruits arrangement, but the Online Plant Guide - Ilex cornuta 'Needlepoint' / Needlepoint Holly page says
    All the leaves I noticed when I was looking at the plant had the single spine, and as I mentioned in the original posting, it was only at home that I noticed that some leaves had three spines. I wonder if that's enough to make it 'Burfordii'.
    Here's a page calling the photo showing three spines 'Needlepoint':
    Ilex cornuta 'Needlepoint' Needlepoint Holly - Magnolia Gardens Nursery | Since 1978
    The text, though, says
    The photo on the Piedmont Carolina Nursery » Blog Archive » Ilex cornuta ‘Needlepoint’ page as well shows for 'Needlepoint' one leaf at the upper right with three spines.
    Then there is the page at Burford Chinese Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii'), which says about the two:
    Well, I guess it's one or the other.
     

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