. Common plants of longleaf pine-bluestem range. Plant ecology; Grasses; Forage plants. GALLBERRY Ilex glabra (L.) Gray This holly is often the most abundant understory shrub on wet sandy flatwoods and along streams in the lower Coastal Plain from Florida to eastern Louisiana. On unburned sites, height may reach 10 feet, but frequent burning keeps it below 5 feet. When tops are killed by fire, numerous sprouts arise from underground, causing plants to spread. Because fire often destroys competing woody spe- cies, gallberry may form almost continuous under- stories in frequently burned timber s
. Common plants of longleaf pine-bluestem range. Plant ecology; Grasses; Forage plants. GALLBERRY Ilex glabra (L.) Gray This holly is often the most abundant understory shrub on wet sandy flatwoods and along streams in the lower Coastal Plain from Florida to eastern Louisiana. On unburned sites, height may reach 10 feet, but frequent burning keeps it below 5 feet. When tops are killed by fire, numerous sprouts arise from underground, causing plants to spread. Because fire often destroys competing woody spe- cies, gallberry may form almost continuous under- stories in frequently burned timber stands. The leaves are alternate and elliptic to lance shaped, usually with three low, blunt teeth on each side toward the tip. They generally resemble those of yaupon, which is often associated with gallberry, but margins of yaupon leaves are toothed through- out. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. Since the plants often spread vigorously by sprout- ing, all stems in a large colony may be from a single plant, and hence will have flowers of the same sex. Flowers of both sexes are similar, with five to eight small white petals. Male flowers have four to six fertile stamens and a sterile ovary. In female flow- ers, the ovaries are functional, but stamens are rudimentary stumps. Female plants are usually prolific seed producers. The berrylike fruits are about xk inch in diameter. They are green during most of the summer, but turn black at maturity. Only one other holly, large gallberry, Ilex coriacea (Pursh) Chapm., bears black fruit. In large gallberry, leaves average nearly 1 inch wide—almost four times broader than the average for gallberry. Gallberry is objectionable because it seriously impairs herbage production and creates a fire haz- ard. Cattle seldom eat the foliage. Swamp rabbits, and possibly other small mammals, eat the leaves. The fruits, like those of most hollies, are eaten by a variety of birds, including wild turkey and quail. Range: Coastal Plain,
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, booksubjectforageplants, booksubjectgrasses
