|
|
Article: The festive American holly. (In profile).(plants)
- Article from:
- American Forests
- Article date:
- January 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 American Forests. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
The American holly has always played an important role in this country's culture. Even before European settlers arrived in North America, native Americans boiled American holly twigs with pine tops to produce a tea to cure coughs. Today evergreen leaves and red berries are synonymous with Christmas in the United States.
When the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts a week before Christmas in 1620, they saw American holly (Ilex opaca) in the nearby forest and no doubt were reminded of English holly (flex aquifolium), for centuries a symbol of Christmas in England and Europe.
Because American holly is native along the East Coast from Massachusetts to northern ...