| Winterberry is a medium-sized deciduous shrub of wetlands that occurs in moist areas throughout North Carolina. Winterberry is similar to Mountain Holly (Ilex montana) but the leaves are a little smaller, narrower, and more rugose (the veins are more indented). The uncommon Smooth Winterberry (Ilex laevigata) of the Coastal Plain is even more similar, but has glabrous (smooth), acute sepals versus ciliate, obtuse sepals in Ilex verticillata. Person Co., NC 6/10/2009.
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| Small white flowers appear in early summer. These are pistillate (female) flowers. Winterberry is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. Person Co., NC 6/10/2009.
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| Pistillate flowers. Person Co., NC 6/10/2009.
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| Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.
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| The numbers of flower part is variable. This one has 7-8 stamens and 7-8 petals on each flower. Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.
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| Leaf undersides are white-hairy. Person Co., NC 6/10/2009.
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| Ripening fruits. Durham, NC 6/27/2009.
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| Person Co., NC 4/18/2011.
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| The common name refers to the bright red fruits that last through the winter. Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/06.
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| Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/06.
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| Alleghany Co., NC 9/27/03.
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| These are staminate (male) flowers. Alleghany Co., NC 7/2/06.
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| Alleghany Co., NC 7/3/05.
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| Pistillate (female) flowers. Chapel Hill, NC 5/31/04.
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| Staminate flowers. Chapel Hill, NC 5/31/04.
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| Bark of a small shrub. Alleghany Co., NC 7/2/06.
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| Bark of a larger shrub. Alleghany Co., NC 7/2/06.
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