Japanese Hollies

摘要

The genus Ilex is represented in Japan by ighteen nominal species (Ohwi 1965; ome dubious JC!) and these are dispersed throughout the islands of Ryukyu, Kyushu. Honshu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido. Several species occur throughout Asia while some are restricted to Japan. The majority are evergreen plants, only four being deciduous species, viz. Ilex geniculata, I. macropoda, I. micrococca and I. serrata. A few of the evergreen species are cultivated in Japan, mainly I. crenata, I. integra, I. latifolia and I. rotunda. Of the deciduous group, only I. serrata is cultivated widely in Japan, especially for bonsai; it is also represented in American gardens by the popular hybrid 'Sparklcberry' (I. serrate x verticillata).