European holly
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European holly ( Ilex aquifolium ), illustration |
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The European holly ( Ilex aquifolium ), also called common holly , common holly , pod (English: holly ) or after the botanical name Ilex , is the only plant species of the genus of the holly ( Ilex ) within the family of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae) native to Central Europe ).
description
Appearance, bark and leaf
The European holly is an evergreen , upright, single or multi-stemmed, 1 to 5 meter high shrub or a 10 to 15 meter high, densely branched tree with a conical crown . Young twigs are green and densely hairy, but bald as they get older. The bark of the trunk also stays green for a long time and only later forms a thin black-gray bark . The trunks of the tree shape can reach a diameter of up to 150 centimeters. The plants can live up to 300 years.
The alternate leaves are arranged in a petiole and a leaf blade. The petiole is 10 to 15 millimeters long. The leaf blade is relatively thick and leathery, glossy dark green on top and yellow-green on the underside. The shape of the leaf blade is elliptical and pointed at the upper end. The edge of leaves from the lower parts of the plant is provided with spines on both sides that slope alternately up and down. With increasing height of the plant, the thorns decrease and completely thorn-free leaves appear.
Inflorescence and flower
The flowering time is at the end of full spring and extends from May to early June. The European holly is dioecious ( dioecious ). The umbellate inflorescences are in the axils of previous year's leaves. There is a short flower stalk.
The inconspicuous, unisexual flowers are about 8 mm in diameter and are radial symmetry and usually four, rarely five-fold with a double flower envelope . The 4 or rarely 5 sepals are fused at their base. The four or rarely five white, sometimes reddish petals are fused at their base. In the male flowers there is only a circle with 4 or rarely 5 stamens .
Fruit and seeds
The drupes, which are red when ripe, have a diameter of 8 to 10 millimeters and are spherical, pea-shaped, shiny and juicy. They contain four stone cores that contain the seeds. The fruit ripens from October.
Chromosome set
The number of chromosomes is 2n = 40.
ecology
The European holly is a scleromorphic (dehydration-tolerant) phanerophyte . The pollination carried out by insects, especially bees . Despite the defensive leaves, the solid leaves are bitten by game, especially in winter. The evergreen holly is also a popular sleeping place for smaller birds and a wintering place for lemon butterflies .
The seeds are spread by blackbirds and thrushes , robins and blackcaps ( endochory , digestive spread). The toxins in the fruit do not seem to harm the birds . The fruits only become soft and edible for birds after they have been frosted several times; they can stay on the plant the whole winter without spoiling and are very important winter fodder for the birds.
The larva of the ilex leaf miner ( Phytomyza ilicis ) attacks the leaves.
Occurrence and endangerment
The European holly is a sub-Mediterranean-suboceanic floral element . It can be found in areas with mild winters and not too dry summers such as Atlantic influenced Europe. In the Mediterranean region , Southeast Europe and North Africa , Ilex aquifolium occurs only in high altitudes with a corresponding climate , in Central Europe in the lowlands and in the Alpine foothills up to altitudes of 1800 meters. In the Allgäu Alps , it only rises on the north ascent of the Kegelkopf in Bavaria to 1,400 meters above sea level. NN on. Outside of Europe, Ilex aquifolium is found in North Africa, the Caucasus and northern Iran . The northern limit of their natural distribution roughly coincides with the course of the 0 ° C January isotherm. In the middle of the 20th century its natural occurrence only extended to Denmark and southwestern Norway , but in recent decades it has expanded its area to the north and northeast, which is associated with the rise in winter temperatures during this period. It has been detected on the coast of Norway up to 63 ° N and has gained a foothold in coastal locations in southern Sweden and on Bornholm. It is considered frost hardy in winter hardiness - zone 7b .
In Germany, the European holly occurs in the low mountain range mainly west of the Rhine , in the Black Forest, in the northern lowlands and in the foothills of the Alps also further east. In Germany, the holly is under special protection according to the Federal Species Protection Ordinance. In Austria , where it is otherwise rare, they are scattered in Vorarlberg ; it is absent in Vienna , Carinthia and East Tyrol . It is endangered in the eastern Alpine region.
Ilex aquifolium has feral as a neophyte outside of its home and is rated as an invasive species in California , so it is listed on the local "State Invasive List".
The European holly prefers to grow on nutrient-rich and lime- deficient , loose or stony loam soils . It shuns light and does best in partial shade or shade. The shrub form grows in mixed forests because it tolerates a lot of shade. The holly forms root shoots and therefore often grows in large stands. The European holly is found scattered in Central Europe, but mostly gregarious, especially in beech and beech-fir forests, and also in fresh oak-hornbeam or oak-birch forests.
According to Ellenberg , it is a moderate heat pointer with oceanic distribution area, a freshness pointer and growing on moderately nitrogen-rich locations. It is a class character species of the summer deciduous forests (Querco-Fagetea).
Trivial names and place names
There are many regional names for this species. In Germany, for example, Hülse / Hölse, Hulstbaum are common. The places Hülsede , Hüls , Hüllhorst , Hülsenbusch , Hülscheid or the place of birth of Annette von Droste-Hülshoff owe their names to this name. The city of Hüllhorst officially uses the Ilex as a label (youth café Ilex, Ilex-Halle, etc.). The name of the most famous district of Los Angeles , Hollywood, is derived from the English name (English: holly ) .
In the Eifel and in the Hunsrück there is the designation as forest thistle. In Austria the plant is also known as Stechlaub ( Vorarlberg ), Schralab, Schradl or Schradlbam ( Upper and Lower Austria ). In parts of old Bavaria the plant is also known as Wàxlàwà. (First syllable either of "wax", or the old Bavarian adjective wàx for "sharp", hence "wax-" or "sharp-leaf [er]")
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Toxicity
The leaves and the (red) berry fruits are slightly toxic. In older literature, berries in particular are described as highly toxic (20 to 30 berries as a lethal dose).
According to the current status, however, the berries are classified as slightly toxic.
When symptoms of poisoning nausea, vomiting, in older literature cardiac arrhythmia, paralysis, kidney damage, diarrhea, stomach inflammation and drowsiness are described.
use
In temperate areas , the holly is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and parks. In addition to the wild form, there are several cultivated forms on the market, some with different leaf shapes and colors. Plantations were established on the west coast of the USA, in the states of California , Washington , and Oregon, as well as in the Canadian province of British Columbia to meet the demand for the Christmas decorations.
In Alsace , a fruit brandy , Baie de Houx , is made from the berries . The berries are macerated in brandy, followed by distillation .
The dense, heavy, but well polishable green wood was used to be inlaid or printing plates for woodcuts processed, sometimes at knife veneer or walking sticks. In the fine carpentry it was used as a substitute for ebony because it accepts dark varnishes very well.
A well-known piece of sleeve wood is Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's walking stick; it is still in the Goethehaus in Weimar .
The poisonous fruits were previously used against constipation and epilepsy and the leaves against stomach weakness, intermittent fever and in southern Europe against rheumatism. The roasted seeds served as a substitute for coffee . According to new studies, they contain antioxidants , derivatives of phenylacetic acid .
The leafy branches can be bundled and tied to a rope used to clean a chimney. This tuft of holly works like a steel brush.
Branches and leaves of the plant were once used against the rat and mouse plague. It is known from Lübeck that in the office building cavities in the ceilings were filled with "Hülsbusch" as a defense.
In the Lower Austrian Pre-Alps (Wienerwald, Mostviertel, Elsbeerreich) the holly was part of the traditional farm garden. At least one tree was placed in a northern corner (so that the tree did not shade the garden as much as possible). In the case of abandoned, fallow farmsteads, it is an indicator of where the 'Gartl' was once located.
The holly in symbolism
Since trees with evergreen foliage are very rare in Central Europe, they were revered by the Teutons and the Celts . Even before the conquest of Britain by the Romans, it was customary to decorate the living area with berry-bearing ilex branches and ivy (male and female principle). Also Pliny the Elder mentioned use as house decorations.
The lush green foliage and strong red berries that appeared during a dark season embody the colors of hope and love. In Christianity they are associated with life and blood. The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is commemorated on Palm Sunday . On this Christian holiday in the temperate climate zone, due to the lack of real palm branches, the branches of evergreen plants or plants that are already green at this time of year (willow, boxwood, holly) are consecrated as palm . The name palm can be derived from this tradition.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote about use on Christian festivals:
- “In the Vatican they use
real palm trees on Palm Sunday.
The cardinals bow down
and sing old psalms.
The same psalms are also
sung with little olive branches in their hands. In
the mountains,
holly must even be used for this custom . "
In Great Britain and North America nowadays holly branches are also often used as Christmas decorations, as leaves and fruits stick to the branches for a long time, even in warm living rooms. The name of the well-known English Christmas song Deck the Halls with boughs of holly is derived from this custom .
Especially in locations with high humidity, the holly could form impenetrable thickets, in which families could save their lives with their belongings in times of war and robbery. That is why this plant is also seen as a symbol of protection from all evil.
Since the leaves at the lower end of the trunk are more heavily reinforced than at the upper end of the trunk, which the game can no longer reach, and where almost smooth-edged leaves are formed, the holly is also valued as a symbol of wise foresight. Its reputation as "Waldunholz" and the saying: "Ilse bilse, nobody willse, the bad shell!" Refers to the strong increase in the 'husk'.
The holly is also treated in the literature. JRR Tolkien had a soft spot for the Hulstbaum; In his novel The Lord of the Rings is the land of Hulsten ( Hollin in the English original) the country of origin of the Elven Rings , which he also described in greater detail in the Silmarillion . Harry Potter's wand was made of holly wood.
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On the millefleurs tapestry are The Lady with the Unicorn (French: La Dame à la licorne ), a six-part picture knitting from the end of the 15th century, which is exhibited in the Musée national du Moyen Age in Paris (until 1980 Musée de Cluny) stylized images of a holly, which are inserted here as a symbol of the druids for bravery and as one of the four cardinal virtues according to Plato .
See also
literature
- Marianne Beuchert : the symbolism of plants . Insel Verlag, Frankfurt / Leipzig 2004, ISBN 3-458-34694-5 .
- Bruno P. Kremer: Shrub trees. Recognize and determine (= Steinbach's natural guide). Mosaik, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-576-11478-5 .
- Lutz Roth , Max Daunderer , Kurt Kormann : Poison Plants - Plant Poisons. Poisonous plants from AZ. Emergency assistance. Occurrence. Effect. Therapy. Allergic and phototoxic reactions . 4th edition. Nikol, Hamburg 2000, ISBN 3-933203-31-7 (reprint from 1994).
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Ilex aquifolium L., European holly. In: FloraWeb.de.
- ↑ Profile and distribution map for Bavaria . In: Botanical Information Hub of Bavaria .
- ^ Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas. 8th edition. Stuttgart, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 .
- ↑ Leaf miner at the plant protection office on hamburg.de .
- ↑ You should recognize them by their galls In: kleingartenmagazin.de , Issue 5, Aug / Sep 2011
- ↑ Erhard Dörr, Wolfgang Lippert : Flora of the Allgäu and its surroundings. Volume 2, IHW, Eching 2004, ISBN 3-930167-61-1 , p. 201.
- ↑ Distribution of Ilex aquifolium in the USA on invasive.org .
- ↑ See also Adam Lonitzer : Kreuterbuch. Artificial Conterfeytunge of the trees, shrubs, hedges, herbs, grain, Gewuertze […]. Edited by Peter Uffenbach, (Frankfurt am Main 1557, further edition :) Matthäus Wagner (printer and publisher), Ulm an der Donau 1679; New print (Leipzig 1934 and by) Konrad Kölbl, (Grünwald near) Munich 1962, p. 71 ( holly, or forest thistle, Ilex aquifolia ).
- ^ Lutz Roth, Max Daunderer , Kurt Kormann: Toxic Plants - Plant Poisons. Poisonous plants from AZ. Emergency assistance. Occurrence. Effect. Therapy. Allergic and phototoxic reactions. 4th edition 1994 ecomed
- ↑ Bruno Vonarburg: Homeotany: Colorful autumn. Vol. 3, Georg Thieme Verlag,. Edition 2005, p. 135 [1]
- ↑ Entry from the NRW poison control center , accessed on May 14, 2020
- ^ Lutz Roth, Max Daunderer , Kurt Kormann: Toxic Plants - Plant Poisons. Poisonous plants from AZ. Emergency assistance. Occurrence. Effect. Therapy. Allergic and phototoxic reactions. 4th edition 1994 ecomed
- ↑ Bruno Vonarburg: Homeotany: Colorful autumn. Vol. 3, Georg Thieme Verlag,. Edition 2005, p. 135 [2]
- ^ Ilex - the evergreen deciduous tree , Tagesspiegel , October 18, 2003
- ↑ RL Ticknor: Overview of Commercial Production of Cut English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) in the Pacific Northwest , 1986 from the Department of Horticulture des of Horticulture at Oregon State University (PDF 456 kB).
- ↑ a b Herbal Drugs: DO - p. 192 [3]
- ↑ David August Rosenthal: Synopsis plantarum diaphoricarum: Systematic overview of medicinal, useful and poisonous plants of all countries, 1862, p. 795 [4]
- ^ Gottfried Eisenmann: The rheumatism family of diseases. - Erlangen, Ferdinand Enke 1841-1842, p. 146 [5]
- ↑ Journal for the Study of Food and Beverage, Volume 39, Julius Springer 1919, p. 141 [6]
- ↑ Handbook of Drug Science Recognition, Volume 6, W. Maudrich, 1964, p. 264 [7]
- ↑ Lutfun Nahar, Wendy R. Russell, Moira Middleton, Mohammad Shoeb, Satyajit D. Sarker: Antioxidant phenylacetic acid derivatives from the seeds of Ilex aquifolium. In: Acta Pharmaceutica . Volume 55, No. 2, 2005, pp. 187-193, PMID 16179132 , abstract & PDF file.
- ↑ John Seymour: The Great Book of Life in the Country. A practical guide for realists and dreamers. Urania, Berlin 1999, ISBN 3-332-01060-3 .
- ↑ Heinrich Tannert: A strange use of the holly (Ilex aquifolium L.) in Lübeck. In reports of the association "Nature and Homeland" and the Natural History Museum in Lübeck. Volume 13/14, Lübeck 1975.
- ^ Carlos Franklin (director): Hundred masterpieces of painting and their secrets. In: The lady with the unicorn (14th episode). arte - tv, accessed on December 13, 2019 .
Web links
- Ilex aquifolium L. In: Info Flora , the national data and information center for Swiss flora .
- Distribution in the northern hemisphere from: Eric Hultén, Magnus Fries: Atlas of North European vascular plants. 1986, ISBN 3-87429-263-0 at Den virtuella floran. (swedish).
- The poisonous holly at giftpflanze.com .
- Ilex at www.foto.nabu-uelzen.de ( Memento from March 12, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
Profiles:
Influence of climate change:
- Climate change readable. Research project at the University of Hanover shows the expansion of the holly in Northern Europe ( Memento from October 9, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
- Koelling, C .; Walther, G.-R .: Excursion to Forests in Climate Change In: Waldwissen . Online version: July 08, 2014.
