Ilex vomitoria, commonly known as听yaupon听() or听yaupon holly, is a species of听听that is native to southeastern听.听The word听yaupon听was derived from the听听y膮虂p膮, from听y膮-听tree +听p膮听leaf.听Another common name,听cassina, was borrowed from听听(despite this, it usually refers to听). The Latin name comes from an observation by early Europeans that the ingestion of the plant was followed by vomiting in certain ceremonies.
The plant was traditionally used by听听to make an听听肠辞苍迟补颈苍颈苍驳听. It is only one of two known plants听听迟辞听听that produce caffeine. The other (containing 80% less) is听, commonly known as dahoon holly.听Yaupon is also widely used for landscaping in its native range.
Description
Yaupon holly is an听听听or small tree reaching 5鈥�9听听tall, with smooth, light gray bark and slender, hairy shoots. The听听is alternate, with leaves ovate to elliptical and a rounded apex with听听or coarsely serrated margin, 1鈥�4.5听cm long and 1鈥�2听cm broad, glossy dark green above, slightly paler below. The听听are 5鈥�5.5听mm diameter, with a white four-lobed听. The听听is a small round, shiny, and red (occasionally yellow)听听4鈥�6听mm diameter containing four pits, which are dispersed by birds eating the fruit. The species may be distinguished from the similar听Ilex cassine听by its smaller leaves with a rounded, not acute apex.
