Holly
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Ilex or holly is a genus of over 570 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. Ilex has the most species of any woody dioecious angiosperm genu
Ilex aquifolium
Ilex paraguariensis
Hollies (here, Ilex aquifolium) are dioecious: (above) shoot with flowers from male plant; (top right) male flower enlarged from female plant; (lower right) female flower enlarged, showing ovary and reduced, sterile stamens with no pollen.
Traditional Christmas card with holly and mistletoe, circa 1880s
Yerba mate
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Yerba mate or yerba maté, Ilex paraguariensis, is a plant species of the holly genus native to South America. The leaves of the plant can be steeped in hot water to make a beverage known as mate. Brew
Holly
…Ilex opaca – American holly (Eastern United States) Ilex paraguariensis – yerba mate (mate, erva-mate) Ilex pedunculosa – longstalked holly…
Yerba mate growing in the wild
Plantation in Misiones, Argentina
Steaming mate infusion in a cup that resembles a gourd, the customary vessel