Holly Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
European holly (Ilex aquifolium) leaves and fruit | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Aquifoliales |
Family: | Aquifoliaceae DC. ex A.Rich. |
Genus: | Ilex L. |
Type species | |
Ilex aquifolium | |
Species | |
About 570, see text |
Ilex (/ˈaɪlɛks/) or holly[3] is a genus of over 570 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family.[4] Ilex has the most species of any woody dioecious angiosperm genus.[5] The species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide. The type species is Ilex aquifolium, the common European holly used in Christmas decorations and cards.