Wilson Holly
Ilex x altaclarensis
This utility-friendly and wildlife-friendly evergreen produces red berries and is considered to be a shrub, rather than a tree.
Ilex x altaclarensis
This utility-friendly and wildlife-friendly evergreen produces red berries and is considered to be a shrub, rather than a tree.
About the Wilson Holly
http://www.performancenursery.gardenideaswest.com/eplant.php?plantnum=7141&return=b_aI http://www.huntingtonbotanical.org/WhatsInBloom/dec05/Page6.html |
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In Depth...
Crown/Basic Description
-Crown shape: oval/rounded
-Growth rate: about 24in taller per season
-Lifespan: 50-150 years
-Is also known as "Red Beauty"
Foliage
-Leaf shape/description: elliptic to ovate
-Color: dark green and yellow around edges
-Shiny
-Evergreen
Flower
-Color: white
-Is dioecious (male and female trees and flowers are separated)
Fruit
-Prolific
-Red berries, typical to all hollies
-Berries are symbolic to winter and holiday time
-Size: .25-.50 inches across (small)
-Eaten mainly by wildlife
Trunk/Bark/Branches
-Bark is dark brown or light green
-Smooth
http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/H-Flowers/Holly,%20Highclere.htm
http://www.watsonsnurseries.co.uk/ILX-GK.htm
-Crown shape: oval/rounded
-Growth rate: about 24in taller per season
-Lifespan: 50-150 years
-Is also known as "Red Beauty"
Foliage
-Leaf shape/description: elliptic to ovate
-Color: dark green and yellow around edges
-Shiny
-Evergreen
Flower
-Color: white
-Is dioecious (male and female trees and flowers are separated)
Fruit
-Prolific
-Red berries, typical to all hollies
-Berries are symbolic to winter and holiday time
-Size: .25-.50 inches across (small)
-Eaten mainly by wildlife
Trunk/Bark/Branches
-Bark is dark brown or light green
-Smooth
http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/H-Flowers/Holly,%20Highclere.htm
http://www.watsonsnurseries.co.uk/ILX-GK.htm
ethnobotany
Most species make their home in tropics and subtropics, with a worldwide distribution in temperate zones. The greatest diversity is found in the Americas and in Southeast Asia. Wilson Holly is cultivated mainly as an ornamental plant in gardens and parks. Other species are used to make caffeinated herbal teas in places like South America. In North American Native Americans used a different species to create a “ceremonial stimulant and emetic know as the black drink.” This was made and only used in ritual for religious purposes.
Holly is commonly referenced with Christmas time. In most western cultures holly is seen as traditional Christmas decoration used in items like wreaths. Holly since “medieval times the plants has carried a Christian symbolism… However, the association of holly with winter celebrations predates Christianity. Druids wore holly wreaths on their heads.”
Holly is commonly referenced with Christmas time. In most western cultures holly is seen as traditional Christmas decoration used in items like wreaths. Holly since “medieval times the plants has carried a Christian symbolism… However, the association of holly with winter celebrations predates Christianity. Druids wore holly wreaths on their heads.”
current research
In 2013 scientists from the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society believe variations within a single tree are combined result of herbivore activity. Holly’s have “The ability of an organism to change its characteristics in response to environmental variations is known as phenotypic plasticity.” To most people this is commonly thought of as eye catching to variable growing conditions. This variation of leaf forms can also take place within a single tree of many different species, and it is known as heterophylly.
Heterophylly is a widespread phenomenon occurring in many different types of plants. “By coincidence it is also a conspicuous feature of ivy (Hedera helix), another plant associated with Christmas decorations." A change like this is referred to as epigenetics and to explore biological mechanics behind this process the scientists turned to methylation. Methylation is “a chemical modification of DNA which does not alter DNA sequence of an organism, but can have decisive consequences.”
The results revealed a clear link herbivore activity and “phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic changes involving modifications in the methylation status of cytosine, one of the building.” This gives support for the theory says that epigenetic DNA variation can be a source of variation in plant populations.
A second study conducted in 2010 was in order to find "Effects of Forest Fragmentation on Seed Dispersal and Seedling Establishment in Ornithochorous Trees." To carry out this researchers used "Habitat fragmentation increases seed dispersal limitation across the landscape and may also affect subsequent demographic stages such as seedling establishment. Thus, the development of adequate plans for forest restoration requires an understanding of mechanisms by which fragmentation hampers seed delivery to deforested areas and knowledge of how fragmentation affects the relationship between seed-deposition patterns and seedling establishment." They evaluated the dispersal and recruitment of two bird-disperesed, fleshy-fruited tree species in fragmented secondary forests of northern spain.
This study showed that "Forest fragmentation reduced the probability of seed deposition for both trees because of decreased availability of woody perches and fruit-rich neighborhoods for seed dispersers, rather than because of reductions in tree cover by itself." It was shown that from this "the effects of fragmentation went beyond effects on the dispersal stage in Crataegus because seedling establishment was proportional to the quantities of bird-dispersed seeds arriving at microsites. In contrast, postdispersal mortality in Ilex was so high that it obscured the seed-to-seedling transition."
These results suggest that the effect of fragmentation are not always consistent across stage of recruitment across species. "Habitat management seeking to overcome barriers to forest recovery must include the preservation, and even the planting, of fleshy-fruited trees in the unforested matrix as a measure to encourage frugivorous birds to enter into open and degraded areas."
Heterophylly is a widespread phenomenon occurring in many different types of plants. “By coincidence it is also a conspicuous feature of ivy (Hedera helix), another plant associated with Christmas decorations." A change like this is referred to as epigenetics and to explore biological mechanics behind this process the scientists turned to methylation. Methylation is “a chemical modification of DNA which does not alter DNA sequence of an organism, but can have decisive consequences.”
The results revealed a clear link herbivore activity and “phenotypic plasticity and epigenetic changes involving modifications in the methylation status of cytosine, one of the building.” This gives support for the theory says that epigenetic DNA variation can be a source of variation in plant populations.
A second study conducted in 2010 was in order to find "Effects of Forest Fragmentation on Seed Dispersal and Seedling Establishment in Ornithochorous Trees." To carry out this researchers used "Habitat fragmentation increases seed dispersal limitation across the landscape and may also affect subsequent demographic stages such as seedling establishment. Thus, the development of adequate plans for forest restoration requires an understanding of mechanisms by which fragmentation hampers seed delivery to deforested areas and knowledge of how fragmentation affects the relationship between seed-deposition patterns and seedling establishment." They evaluated the dispersal and recruitment of two bird-disperesed, fleshy-fruited tree species in fragmented secondary forests of northern spain.
This study showed that "Forest fragmentation reduced the probability of seed deposition for both trees because of decreased availability of woody perches and fruit-rich neighborhoods for seed dispersers, rather than because of reductions in tree cover by itself." It was shown that from this "the effects of fragmentation went beyond effects on the dispersal stage in Crataegus because seedling establishment was proportional to the quantities of bird-dispersed seeds arriving at microsites. In contrast, postdispersal mortality in Ilex was so high that it obscured the seed-to-seedling transition."
These results suggest that the effect of fragmentation are not always consistent across stage of recruitment across species. "Habitat management seeking to overcome barriers to forest recovery must include the preservation, and even the planting, of fleshy-fruited trees in the unforested matrix as a measure to encourage frugivorous birds to enter into open and degraded areas."
creative essay
The Wilson Holly is a part of the holly species. These plants are spread through out the world but concentrated in the Americans and Southeast Asia. It is an ornamental plant that is commonly seen and used in gardens and parks. The diverse population of Holly’s some posses specific traits like one being able to create a caffeinated drink. Another kind is used for religious activities for Native Americans. Also it is a plant that is usually related to Christmas time and can be seen through illustrations and decorations during the holidays.
apa/sources used
Herrera, J., & García, D. (2010). Effects of Forest Fragmentation on Seed Dispersal and Seedling Establishment in Ornithochorous Trees. Conservation Biology, 24(4), 1089-1098. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01459.x
Science Daily. (Dec. 13, 2013). Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121212205452.htm
Science Daily. (Dec. 13, 2013). Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121212205452.htm