Ilex glabra (L.) A. Gray Inkberry, gallberry, bitter gallberry, evergreen winterberry, inkberry holly, Appalachian tea
Inkberry, which is closely related to holly, is a North American native. Identification: Plants are rounded shrubs 4-8′ (1.2-2.4 m) tall. Leaves are dark green, shiny, 1-2″ (2.5-5 cm) × ¼-½″ (8.4-12 mm), roughly oval, and slightly toothed near the tips. Inkberry is dioecious—male and female flowers appear on the same plant. Both flowers are inconspicuous, cream-colored and often tinged with green, about ¼″ (6.3 mm) in diameter, with six petals. Male flowers are in clusters, while female flowers are solitary. Fruits are clusters of black berries, each about ¼″ (6.3 mm) in diameter. Edibility: Tea made from the dried, roasted leaves contains caffeine, and tastes similar to yaupon tea. Online References:
The University of Connecticut Plant Database The Ohio State University PLANTFacts database Harvard University's Arnold Arboretum (PDF) Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
Ilex glabra description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020. |
Range: Zones 4-9:
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