About Ilex montana Torr. & A.Gray
Ilex montana Torr. & A.Gray is a deciduous shrub or small tree that reaches a height of 9 to 12 metres (30 to 39 feet). Its leaves measure 3 to 9 cm long and 2 to 5 cm wide. They are light green in color, with an ovate or oblong shape, a wedge-shaped or rounded base, and an acute apex; they also feature a serrated margin and an acuminate apex. Unlike the common popular conception of holly leaves, the leaves of this species do not have spines or bristles. The leaves turn yellow before falling from the plant in late autumn. Ilex montana produces flowers that are 4 to 5 mm in diameter, with a four-lobed white corolla. These flowers emerge in late spring, when the new leaves have reached more than half their full size. The fruit it produces is a spherical bright red drupe that is 8 to 10 mm in diameter, and contains four seeds.
