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Ilex opaca, theAmerican holly, is a species of, native to the eastern and south-central, from coastalsouth to central, and west to southeasternand eastern.
Ilex opacais a medium-sized broadleavedtree growing on average to 10–20m (33–66ft) tall, and up to 30m (98ft) tall. Typically, its trunk diameter reaches 50cm (20in), sometimes up to 120cm (47in). Theis light gray, roughened by small warty lumps. The branchlets are stout, green at first and covered with rusty down, later smooth and brown. The winter buds are brown, short, obtuse or acute.
Theare, 5–7.5cm (2.0–3.0in) long and 2–4cm (0.79–1.57in) wide, stiff, yellow green and dull matte to sub-shiny above (distinctly less glossy than the otherwise fairly similar European holly), often pale yellow beneath; the edges are curved into several sharp, spike-like points, and a wedge-shaped base and; theis prominent and depressed, the primary veins conspicuous; theis short, stout, grooved, thickened at base, with a pair of minute. The leaves remain on the branches for two to three years, finally falling in the spring when pushed off by growing buds.
Theis a small red6–12mm diameter containing four; it is often persistent into winter.Branch full of ripe fruitTheare greenish white, small, borne in late spring in shortfrom theof young leaves or scattered along the base of young branches. The calyx is small, four-lobed,in the bud, acute, margins, persistent. Theis white, with four petal-like lobes united at the base,, spreading,,in bud. The flower stem is hairy with a minuteat base. Like all, it is, with separate male and female plants; only female plants produce the characteristic red berries. One male canseveral females. Male flowers have four, inserted on the base of the corolla, alternate with its lobes;awl-shaped, exserted in the sterile, much shorter in the sterile flower;attached at the back, oblong,, two-celled, cells opening longitudinally. Theon female flowers has a, four-celled,inflowers;wanting,, four-lobed; ovules one or two in each cell.