| General Information |
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| Distribution | A nearly cosmopolitan genus of about 600 species.
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Habit
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Shrubs or trees.
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Leaves
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Leaves persistent, alternate, petiolate; blade coriaceous, adaxial surface usually shiny, margin entire to toothed or spinescent; stipules minute.
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Flowers
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Flowers unisexual, occasionally some of the flowers appearing perfect; sepals persistent; petals white or greenish, rotate, connate at base, caducous; stamens as many as petals, inserted at the base of the corolla, staminodia in pistillate flowers similar to fertile stamens, but usually smaller; ovary angled or lobed, usually 2–8-locular, rudimentary in staminate flowers, style usually absent, stigmas as many as locules of the ovary, distinct or connate.
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Fruit
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Fruit drupaceous, with as many 1-seeded pyrenes as carpels.
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Seeds
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Seeds with oily endosperm.
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Notes
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Ilex is the Latin name for the holm oak tree, Quercus ilex L.
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Contributor
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Nancy Khan
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