Ilex Flowers

Ilex Flowers Uk

Name : Ilex Flowers
Latin Name : Genus: Ilex, (Ilex aquifolium)
Ilex Description

Ilex is the only living genus of the family Aquifoliaceae and comprises of approximately 600 species of flowering plants. The Ilex genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and is found all over the world.

Ilex flowers are commonly known as Holly or Winterberry. The genus derives its name “Ilex” is from the Latin “Quercus ilex,” meaning “the holly oak.”

Ilex or Holly is an all time favourite at Christmas, and colourful Holly wreaths signify the spirit of Christmas in a way that nothing else can. The tiny, white Holly flowers have four petals and are reminiscent of hawthorn blossom. Hollies bloom in spring around April or May. Holly is an evergreen shrub, found growing throughout Britain. The beautifully scented Hollies have separate male and female plants and the flowers are also different on male and female trees. Female Ilex flowers have a little green bump in the center which is actually the immature ovary. This ovary matures into a holly berry. On the other hand the male Holly flowers are more numerous than the sparsely flowered female trees and the stamens are quite obvious, with globs of pollen on them. Ilex leaves vary greatly in colour and form depending on the variety and can be "entire", "toothed", or "spire tipped". Hollies are also popular for their bright, reddish-orange to red berries that are clustered along multiple branches of slender stems available from fall through winter.

Ilex can grow in many different soil types and is popular in parks and at the roadside bordering fields and gardens. Birds and other wildlife benefit from the shelter of its spiky leaves, offering excellent protection against predators, and also the softened holly berries that serve as food to birds and thus Holly berries are most frequently distributed by birds. Hollies are pollinated by bees and other insects.

Hollies are ideal as hedges with their spiny leaves that make them difficult to penetrate, and they also take well to pruning and shaping.

Holly berries are also known to be somewhat toxic and cause vomiting and/or diarrhea when ingested by people.

Holly berries are popular around Christmas time in the form of beautiful wreaths. Holly flowers are equally popular in flower arrangements and bouquets due to their sweet fragrance and tiny, enchanting blossoms. Ilex or Hollies have a vase life of 5-14 days if properly cared for.

Popular varieties include ‘Winter Red’, ‘Afterglow’, ‘Cacapon’, ‘Red Sprite’, ‘Shaver’ and ‘Winter Gold’.

Ilex Meaning

In Heraldry, the enchanting Ilex symbolises Truth. During the Victorian era, it was believed that holly symbolises Envy and Suspicion.

In today’s world the charming Holly is considered The Embodiment of Festivity, Happiness and Love. The beautiful Holly is the Essence of Christmas and signifies the meanings Peace on Earth and Good Will Towards Man.

Ilex Mythology

Hollies have been popular throughout different eras in time, between the 13th and 18th century. Before the introduction of turnips, holly was cultivated as winter fodder for cattle and sheep.

Several Ilex species are used to make caffeine-rich herbal teas In North and Central America. Ilex vomitoria, commonly known as Yaupon, was used by southeastern Native Americans as a ceremonial stimulant and emetic known as "the black drink" which was used mainly for its purgative properties, most often ritually. I. glabra or Gallberry is used to make yet another drink called Appalachian tea, which is a milder substitute for Yaupon and is caffeine free. In China, the young leaf buds of I. kudingcha are processed in a method similar to green tea to make a tisane called k?d?ng chá, meaning "bitter spike-leaf tea".

Ilex wood is heavy, hard and whitish and is traditionally used to make white chess pieces. In the eighteenth century, the woody holly stems were used to make loom spinning rods since holly was unlikely to snag the thread of the weaver.

In the past, fresh Ilex leaves have also been used to make a juice for the treatment of jaundice, catarrh, pleurisy and rheumatism while Holly berries were used for the inducement of nausea and vomiting.

Christmas wreaths are the most popular use of Holly and are said to signify Peace and Love. In the past, Holly wreaths were also hung to ward off evil spirits.