Holly

Botanical Name: Ilex aquifoilium

Family: Aquifoliaceae

Other Names: Aquifolius, bats wings, Christ's thorn, European holm chaste, holme, holy tree, hulm, hulver, hulver Bush Mountain, needle leaved holly

Habitat: Oak and beech woods, rocky streams, hills

Description: Evergreen tree. Up to 21mm/70ft. Lower leaves-alternate, spiky, dark green. Higher leaves-oval/ Red blossoms followed by red berries November/December. Bark smooth grey. Small white 5 petals flowers in May/June

Native to: Britain, Europe

Part Used: Whole herb

Cultivation: All soil. Full or partial shade

Propagation: By seed

Harvesting: Leaves collected midday May or June

Preserving: Leaves – dry

Actions: Leaves – diaphoretic, diuretic

Berries- emetic, purgative, vulnerary

Part Used: Root

Constituents: Bitter

  Glycosides – menidaurin

  Flavonoids –kaempferol, quercetin glycosides, rutin

  Triterpenes –alpha amyrin, beta amyrin, ursolic acid, stigmasterol, campesterol

  Theobromine

Caffeic acid derivatives, chlorogenic acid

Skin: Wounds, eye

Respiratory: Catarrh

Immune: Fever

Psychological: Anger, jealousy, bitterness, envy, rage, and hatred

Other Uses: Wood: kitchenware, chess pieces

Other Notes: In traditional witchcraft it rules over the waning year and winter

  Scared to Druids

  Ilex is Latin for Holm oak

  It symbolises eternal life

  It is said to be unlucky to bring into a house before Christmas Eve

  According to legend it grew under Christ’s footsteps and the berries represent his blood and the prickles his suffering

  It is said if placed outside a house it will protect against the evil eye and witchcraft

Plant: Mars    Element: Fire

Caution: Holly berries are poisonous, but blackbirds are immune