Ilex glabra (L.) A. Gray
Inkberry, gallberry, bitter gallberry, evergreen winterberry, inkberry holly, Appalachian tea
Inkberry, which is closely related to holly, is a North American native.
Plants: Rounded shrubs 4–8′ (1.2–2.4 m) tall.
Leaves: Dark green, shiny, 1–2 ⨉ ¼–½″ (2.5–5 cm ⨉ 8.4–12 mm), roughly oval, and slightly toothed near the tips.
Flowers: Inkberry is dioecious—male and female flowers appear on the same plant. Both flowers are inconspicuous, cream-colored and often tinged with green, about ¼″ (6.3 mm) in diameter, with six petals. Male flowers are in clusters, while female flowers are solitary.
Fruits: Clusters of black (or red or yellow) berries, each about ¼″ (6.3 mm) in diameter. Pulp is bitter, and each contains 3-5 nutlets.
Habitats: Occurs in a very wide range of habitats in the eastern and southern United States.
Edibility: Tea made from the dried, roasted leaves contains caffeine, and tastes similar to yaupon tea.
Online References:
6/14/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
1/5/2026 · By Jacquelyn Boyt 
6/14/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) 
6/14/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
6/15/2012 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
6/14/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Aquifoliales | Hollies and some fairly obscure genera |
| Family | Aquifoliaceae | Holly family |
| Genus | Ilex | Latin for “holly oak” (rather than holly!) |
| Species | glabra | “Smooth or hairless” |
Ilex glabra description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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