Ilex coriacea (Pursh) Chapm.

Sweet Gallberry; Tall Inkberry; Large Gallberry

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Sweet Gallberry is a native evergreen shrub or small tree in the Holly family (Aquifoliaceae). It can be found in the southern half of the state. Sweet Gallberry grows in low pine woods, in bogs and seeps, in pine flatwoods, along streams, and in savannas. It is a colonial shrub reaching heights of 9-20 feet. It often forms dense thickets. Young stems are dark brown in color and finely pubescent. Older stems have smooth gray or tan bark. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic to oval in outline, entire or with a few spreading bristle-like teeth along the margin towards the tip. The petiole and midvein of the upper surface of the leaf are pubescent. The leaves are thick and leathery in texture, dark green and lustrous above and paler green below. The lower surface of the leaf may be glabrous or pubescent (often with stellate hairs), and has scattered small punctate glands. Staminate and pistillate flowers occur on separate plants. Staminate flowers occur in axillary fascicles. Pistillate flowers are solitary or in small fascicles at the base of new shoots. The flowers have a green 5-9 lobed calyx and a white 5-8 lobed corolla. The fruit is a shiny black globose drupe with 5-9 smooth nutlets. The pulp of the drupe is sweet, and is consumed by birds and other wildlife. The fruit fall soon after maturing, unlike in many other Ilex species. Sweet Gallberry is available from nurseries. It prefers a moist acidic soil in full sun, but is adaptable. It is an important nectar source for bees, and produces a light-colored mild honey.—A. Diamond

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Native FACW (NWPL)

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