So Christmassy

Shown here is one of the few holly trees around the house. When I was little holly figured prominently in the Christmas cards I browsed in stores and was ever present in many "imported" TV shows and movies. To have it growing so casually around me now is magic because I loved all Christmas mythology, from our very own Pinoy dawn masses (voices lifted in song in the chilly dawn) to Santa Claus to fir and pine trees and of course, the holly. With its spiny prickly leaves and red berries it was strangely alluring. I hope we get a few red berries this winter.

Hollies are shrubs and trees from 2–25 m tall, with a wide distribution in Asia, Europe, Africa, and North and South America. Most species are found in the tropics and subtropics of America and Asia - China has 204 native species. 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 serrations. They are mostly dioecious, with male and female flowers on different plants, with some exceptions. Pollination is mainly by bees and other insects. The fruits are small drupes, usually with four to six pits, and range in color from red to purple-black.

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 milder in taste. 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 (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata). Other Lepidoptera whose larvae feed on holly include Bucculatrix ilecella (which feeds exclusively on hollies) and The Engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia). The Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica) is another well-known animal feeding on holly leaves. Holly is commonly referenced at Christmas time. The berries are red.

- From Wikipedia