| Mountain Holly is large shrub or small tree common in in deciduous forest understories in the Mountains and upper Piedmont of North Carolina. Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.
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| Mountain Holly's deciduous leaves are larger than the other hollies in its range, such as Winterberry (Ilex verticillata). A similar species in the lower Piedmont and Coastal Plain is Carolina Holly (Ilex ambigua), but this has less toothed leaves, which are rounded at the tip instead of long-tapered, and smaller fruits. Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.
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| Carroll Co., VA 5/22/2011.
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| Pistillate (female) flowers. Carroll Co., VA 5/22/2011.
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| Staminate (male) flowers. Carroll Co., VA 5/22/2011.
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| Orange Co., NC 10/17/2010.
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| Orange Co., NC 10/17/2010.
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| Orange Co., NC 10/17/2010.
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| The leaf undersides are usually smooth and somewhat shiny, with prominent veins. Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.
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| This Mountain Holly has unusual leaves — white hairy beneath. This tree was growing on a ridge at Pilot Mountain adjacent to the smooth-leaved tree photographed above. Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.
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| Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.
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| Flowers are tiny and white. These are staminate (male) flowers. Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.
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| Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.
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| Staminate flowers. Surry Co., NC 5/15/10.
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| Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.
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| Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.
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| The leaves are borne on short spur branches. Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.
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Carroll Co., VA 10/16/05.
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| The drupes are bright red and last through the winter, giving it another common name: Mountain Winterberry. Carroll Co., VA 10/16/05.
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| Bark of a small trunk. Carroll Co., VA 10/16/05.
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| Bark of a large trunk, with lichens. Carroll Co., VA 10/16/05.
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| Bark of a larger tree. Buncombe Co., NC 7/8/06.
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