Aquifoliaceae

Aquifoliaceae, the aquifoliaceae, are a family belonging to the order Aquifoliales. It contains only two genera of evergreen or deciduous trees and shrubs, ordinarily dioecious.

Description

The most well-known and numerous genus, Ilex, popularly called holly, consists of about 600 species, of which about 300 are native to temperate and tropical countries, especially America. They are characterized by having simple and alternate leaves with generally unisexual, actinomorphic, inconspicuous flowers, often tetramerous, with superior ovary and frequently arranged in cymes. The fruits are drupes.

The other genus, Nemopanthus, only contains one species, Nemopanthus mucronatus, which differs from those of Ilex in its flowers with a calyx more reduced and narrow petals, in addition to being tetraploid, instead of diploid.

Taxonomy

The family was described by Bercht. & J.Presl and published in O Přirozenosti rostlin, aneb rostlinar 2(110): 440, 438. 1825.

Genres

• Ilex
• Nemopanthus
• Prinos

Genders pending acceptance

• Ageria
• Arinemia
• Ennepta
• Hexotria
• Nemopanthes
• Pseudehretia
• Synstima