Holly (Ilex) is a genus of about 400 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae. They are shrubs and trees from 2-25 m tall, with a wide distribution in Asia, Europe, north Africa, and North and South America. The leaves are simple, and can be either deciduous or evergreen depending on the species, and may be entire, finely toothed, or with widely-spaced, spine-tipped leaves. Hollies are mostly dioecious, with male and female flowers on different plants, with some exceptions. Pollination is mainly by bees and other insects. The fruit is a small berry, usually red when mature, with one to ten seeds.

Holly berries are mildly toxic and will cause vomiting and/or diarrhea when ingested by people. However they are extremely important food for numerous species of birds, and also are eaten by other wild animals. In the fall and early winter the berries are hard and apparently unpalatable. After being frozen or frosted several times, the berries soften, and become edible. During winter storms, birds often take refuge in hollies, which provide shelter, protection from predators (by the spiny leaves), and food. The flowers are sometimes eaten by the larva of the Double-striped Pug moth. Other Lepidoptera whose larvae feed on holly include Bucculatrix ilecella (which feeds exclusively on holly) and The Engrailed.

More on [ Holly ]

PLoS Medicine: New Articles

Towards a Data Sharing Culture: Recommendations for Leadership from Academic Health Centers
Rebecca Crowley and colleagues propose that academic health centers can and should lead the transition towards a culture of biomedical data sharing.
Key Issues in Conducting a Meta-Analysis of Gene Expression Microarray Datasets
Adaikalavan Ramasamy and colleagues outline seven key issues and suggest a stepwise approach in conducting a meta-analysis of microarray datasets.
Revision Rates after Primary Hip and Knee Replacement in England between 2003 and 2006
Jan van der Meulen and colleagues show that about one in 75 patients with a primary hip or knee replacement needed a revision of their prosthesis within 3 years.

EurekAlert! - Biology

Biophysical Society names 2009 award recipients
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(Biophysical Society) The Biophysical Society is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2009 Society awards. The eight recipients will receive their awards at the Society's 53rd Annual Meeting on Monday, March 2, 2009, at the Boston Convention and Exhibitions Center in Massachusetts.
Iowa State wins $18.5M grant to create NSF Center for Biorenewable Chemicals
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(Iowa State University) The National Science Foundation has awarded Iowa State University and its research partners an $18.5 million grant to establish an NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals based at Iowa State. The center's focus will be to develop catalysts that promote the chemical reactions that can efficiently produce biorenewable chemicals. The center is also expected to create partnerships that promote innovation, transform engineered systems and produce engineering graduates who can contribute in a global economy.
INCF organizes the first congress dedicated to the emerging field of neuroinformatics
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(INCF - International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility) The first INCF Congress of Neuroinformatics will convene Sept. 7-9 at the Stockholm City Conference Center in Stockholm. The emerging neuroinformatics field combines neuroscience and informatics research to develop advanced tools and approaches to understanding the structure and function of the brain. The tools may also be applied to brain disorders and diseases. With a broad international outreach, the meeting will bring together experts from all disciplines contributing to neuroinformatics.

Subscribe to Biology RSS feed