Ilex vomitoria Aiton

Shrub or small tree to 8 m; lvs evergreen coriaceous, oval to oblong or elliptic, 2–4 cm, obtuse at both ends, glabrous, finely crenate, the apex of each tooth closely appressed to the sinus; fls mostly 4-merous, the staminate in short-peduncled cymes, the pistillate cymes subsessile; fr red, 5 mm; nutlets grooved on the back; 2n=40. Swamps and wet woods on the coastal plain; se. Va. to Fla., Ark., and Tex. May.

Sandy woods and clearings. Low moist woods, especially near the coast. Often forming dense thickets along streams and pond margins and shallow swamp lands.

The leaves are toasted then boiled to make tea. It contains caffeine. The leaves are also used for a syrup used in soft drinks. They are also used to flavour ice cream. Caution: The berries can cause vomiting.

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.