| Ilex cassine | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Aquifoliales |
| Family: | Aquifoliaceae |
| Genus: | Ilex |
| Species: | I. cassine |
| Binomial name | |
| Ilex cassine L.[1] |
|
Ilex cassine is a holly native to the southeastern coast of North America, in the United States from Virginia to southeast Texas, in Mexico in Veracruz, and in the Caribbean on the Bahamas, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. It is commonly known as Dahoon Holly[1] or Cassena, the latter derived from the Timucua name for I. vomitoria.[2]
It is a large shrub or small tree growing to 10-13 m tall. The leaves are evergreen, 6-15 cm long and 2-4 cm broad, glossy dark green, entire or with a few small spines near the apex of the leaf. The flowers are white, with a four-lobed corolla. The fruit is a red drupe 5-6 mm diameter containing four seeds.[3][4][5]
As with other hollies, it is dioecious with separate male and female plants. Only the females have berries, and a male pollenizer must be within range for bees to pollinate them.
Ilex Cassine (Cassine variety) is a primary ingredient in Yaupon, a traditional beverage made by North Carolina Native Americans.[6]
It is grown as an ornamental plant for the attractive bright red berries set against the glossy green leaves. Its original range was close to the coast, but the range has been extended by planting.
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ilex_cassine Ilex cassine] at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Ilex cassine at Wikispecies