English holly (Ilex aquifolium) at the CB

Apparently we have two, plus one offspring or offshoot. Crumby is pretty sure they are actually Ilex aquifolium as opposed to a cultivar, freak of nature, hybrid or Ilex opaca.

The only attempt at reproduction at the CB is probably a shoot of a root that is now maybe three years old. It (the shoot of the root) has different leaves than the fruit and flower bearing adults. Shown here is a leaf off the offspring. It’s on the right and is shockingly different than the regular leaves. Yes. Maybe those five spiny tips keep herbivores at bay when the shoot is little. Then, once it matures, it only produces the solitary spiny tip at the distal end of the leaf. But who really knows?

Apparently, Ilex aquifolium is invasive in the northwest and northeast of Norte Americano. Here though, the climate is probably too hot, and the extreme heat sterilizes the fruit or something. In any event, something is terribly wrong in these parts. Terribly wrong because there are no babies produced in these parts.

This honey bee loves the flowers.