The investigation provides a good opportunity to collect data and process it appropriately. Also, constant pruning, for example to produce a hedge, appears to increase spine production. Once dried, specimen leaves should last for several years. The Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta) bears lighter green leaves and is shorter in stature. Holly leaves are elliptical in shape but possess widely spaced, prickly spines along the edges. It's a touch less hardy, and grows well in USDA zones 5 through 9. This placement of spines enhances the wavy and distinct scalloped look of the holly leaf. Sneaky, cheating plants - just like humans, then. Cream variegated varieties include "Crinkle Variegated" holly (Ilex aquifolium "Crinkle Variegated") and "Santa's Delight" holly (Ilex "Santa's Delight"). Once dried, specimen leaves should last for several years. a) develop knowledge and understanding of structural defence mechanisms in plants. In other ways it resembles the traditional hollies. are shrubs or small trees that grow in temperate zones around the world. The English and Chinese hollies are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 9. Watch our 'how to' video for a full introduction showing the protocol and how to teach it. Inkberry (Ilex glabra) bears glossy leaves with smooth edges and grows to 8 feet tall. Variegation usually occurs in yellow or cream. Hollies (Ilex spp.) Many varieties of holly offer variegated leaves. The leaves and berries resemble other traditional hollies, but the stems are blue to purple. The fruits are often black, but can be cream as well. American winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is a deciduous species, bearing glossy, spineless foliage and red berries. Produced by Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), this activity enables students to:•    develop knowledge and understanding of structural defence mechanisms in plants•    develop problem solving skills•    demonstrate the processing of information and use of calculations. The leaves of the English holly (Ilex aquifolium) are wavy and polished. Lori Norris has been writing professionally since 1998, specializing in horticulture. American spineless holly (Ilex opaca) actually has spines, but they are small. Holly leaves are usually evenly oval, though this can be obscured by spines. Blue holly (Ilex x meserveae) is a cross created to produce a holly more tolerant of cold winters. The number of spines produced varies from one variety to another. The traditional blue hollies have spiny leaves with a glossy finish. The investigation looks how the number of spines on holly bush leaves varies with height from the ground. Download the full protocol from the link on the right. She has written articles for the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association, chapters of the certification manual for the Oregon Association of Nurseries and translated master gardener materials into Spanish. They are similar in appearance with spiny-toothed leaves and an abundance of red berries. Types of Boxwood Species for Japanese Gardens. Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. Although it is generally accepted that the higher up the leaves the less spines they will have, the relationship is not always straightforward. are shrubs or small trees that grow in temperate zones around the world. "Crinkle Variegated" produces a cream leaf with a green margin, and "Santa's Delight" bears a green leaf with a white margin. American holly is often used as a substitute for English holly (Ilex aquifolium) in Christmas decorations where the latter does not grow well. The investigation is designed for students following a Scottish Highers course but it is equally useful for other post-16 courses in biology.

The most identifiable hollies are sometime referred to as the blue or Christmas hollies, with their glossy, dark green leaves with sharp spines along the edge. Both "Green Island" (Ilex crenata "Green Island") and "Green Lustre" (Ilex crenata "Green Lustre") have dense, spreading habits, and "Golden Heller" (Ilex crenata "Golden Heller") produces yellow leaves. This plant has a number of other common names, including hummock holly, dune holly, and scrub holly.

To do this, students will investigate small branches of holly, cut at different heights from a large unpruned holly tree.

In this investigation, students consider whether there is a relationship between the number of spines on a leaf and its height above the ground. The oakleaf holly is less even, narrowing gradually from its widest point to suggest an almost oak-like shape. Holly leaves Credit: Photo: ALAMY Researchers found leaves are much more prickly lower down the tree where herbivores can reach, suggesting the spines have evolved to protect the species. Both are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9. However, there are other types of hollies that barely resemble the most familiar varieties. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Watch our 'how to' video for a full introduction showing the protocol and how to teach it - See more at: http://me-saps.medschl.cam.ac.uk/secondary/teaching-resources/235-student-sheet-23-photosynthesis-using-algae-wrapped-in-jelly-balls#sthash.WwAFLQk3.dpuf, Investigating adaptation and defence - spines on holly leaves, Adaptation, natural selection and winged fruits: science club activity, Adaptation, evolution and the physics of coconuts. To do this, students will investigate small branches of holly, cut at different heights from a large unpruned holly … The foliage on the holly tree or shrub hybrid grows in an alternate pattern on the holly branches. Ilex aquifolium, the holly, common holly, English holly, European holly, or occasionally Christmas holly, is a species of flowering plant in the family Aquifoliaceae, native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia. All are hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9. The name inkberry refers to the inky black berries produced. This practical was developed for the Scottish Highers and is in the appropriate format, but the protocol can equally well be used for other UK specifications.
It could also be adapted for secondary students of a younger age. While hollies are traditionally thought of as having spiny leaves, there are a few species that bear smooth or only lightly-spiny leaves. Holly trees are well known for their spiny leaves. They have round or mounding habits and can be trimmed into low hedges. In fact, Japanese hollies often resemble other genera more than hollies, and the leaves have no spines. Holly trees are well known for their spiny leaves. Yellow variegated varieties include "Golden King" holly (Ilex aquifolium "Golden King"), with a broad yellow edge that becomes more pronounced in fall; and "Ripley Gold" holly (Ilex x altaclerensis "Ripley Gold"). The investigation provides a good opportunity to collect data and process it appropriately. Japanese hollies (Ilex crenata) bear very small leaves, much like a boxwood (Buxus spp., USDA zones 5 through 8).

b)  develop problem solving skills, and skills in processing information, including making using calculations where appropriate. The investigation looks how the number of spines on holly bush leaves varies with height from the ground. Do Grape Vines Have Parallel Veins or Netted Veins? In this investigation, students consider whether there is a relationship between the number of spines on a leaf and its height above the ground. Difference Between Aralia Spinosa and Aralia Elata, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens: Ilex Aquifolium, Missouri Botanical Garden: Ilex Crenata "Sky Pencil", Auburn University: Ilex Crenata "Green Lustre", Oregon State University: Ilex Crenata "Dwarf Pagoda", The Garden Centre Group: Ilex x Altaclerensis "Ripley Gold". Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS): secondary and post-16 resources/. Several varieties take on different forms, such as "Sky Pencil" (Ilex crenata "Sky Pencil"), which is columnar, or "Dwarf Pagoda" (Ilex crenata "Dwarf Pagoda"), which is a dwarf. Norris holds a Bachelor of Arts from Linfield College.

What Makes the Leaves of Savannah Hollies Turn Yellow?

Hollies (Ilex spp.)

Only females produce red to yellow berries. The holly leaf is thick, stiff and has a texture similar to leather. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out. They are a little hardier than the other traditional hollies, growing well in USDA zones 5 through 9.

All but a few are evergreens. All Japanese hollies are hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8. Students will randomly choose a number of leaves from each height and calculate the average number of spines that leaves from each chosen height.