Gen info
- Ilex, or holly, is a genus of over 570 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and is the only living genus in the family.
- Etymology: The genus name Ilex derives from Latin, meaning "holm-oak or evergreen oak (Quercus ilex). (9) The specific epithet cymosa derives from Greek meaning "cyme", referring to the cymose inflorescences. (4)
- Despite the Linnaean classification of Ilex as holly, in late 19th century Britain, Ilex was being applied to oak as well as holly, possibly due to superficial similarity of the leaves. The type species Ilex aquifolium refers to the common European holly used in Christmas decorations and cards. (9)

Botany
• Sub-canopy tree up to 29 m tall and 63 cm dbh. Leaves alternate, simple, penni-veined. Flowers ca. 3 mm in diameter, white-yellow, slightly fragrant, placed in lax, compound cymes. Fruits ca. 3 mm in diameter, pink-blue-purple, fleshy berry. (4)

• An evergeen tree, up to 30 m tall. Trunk: Bark becomes rougher and fissured as it grows older. Foliage: Leaves are alternate, stalked; leaf blades are oblong or elliptic, dark green to green above, pale green with a waxy bloom below, and 5-14 by 2.3-6.4 cm. Flowers: Its small flowers are olive green, greenish-white, or white, and up to 3 mm wide. Fruits: Its ovoid, fleshy fruits are berries that ripen from red to purple, then black, and are 3-4 by 3-5 mm, with eight to ten seeds inside. (5)

• Small, smooth, evergreen tree up to
16(-25) m tall, rarely with buttresses, bark white or light gray, smooth or pimply because of lenticels, inner bark thick, ochre-brown, and coarsely gritty; wood pink or cream. Young twigs conspicuously white and lenticellate. Leaves entire, alternate, 2.5-6.3 by 5-10(-14) cm, elliptic with a blunt tip, dark green and glossy above, pale beneath, thinly leathery, with 6-8 pairs of side veins; leaf stalk 1-1.5 cm long. Young leaves white or magenta. Flowers 2-3 mm across, greenish-white, in small, rather loose clusters with numerous flowers, located in the axils. Male flowers with 4-5 sepals and petals, stamens 4. Female flowers with 5-6 sepals, 6-8 petals. Fruit an egg-shaped berry, 4(-5) mm long and 3-4 mm wide, pinkish-purple, then black, like small currants, with about 8-10 seeds; fruit stalk 3-6 mm. Fruit is ridged when dry. (7)

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines.
- Common in lowland primary forests, ascending to 800 m. Also in peat swamps. (2)
- Also native to Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Cambodia, Jawa, Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, New Guinea, Solomon Is., Sulawesi, Sumatera, Vietnam. (1)

Constituents
- No studies found.

Parts used
Roots, leaves.

Uses
Edibility
- No information found on edibility of Ilex cymosa fruits.
- Ilex fruits are generally toxic to humans, and can cause vomiting or diarrhea. However, they are a food source for certain birds and other animals, which help disperse the seeds.
Folkloric
- Roots used for fever and for ripening boils. Leaves used for sprains.
- In Indonesia, leaf powder applied to skin diseases.
- In Thailand, roots used as antipyretic: Mix with other herbs, rub with benzoin, add a little water, then drink. (8)
Others
- Wood: Used for firewood and for house construction.

Studies
• No studies found.

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Ilex cymosa / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Ilex cymosa / Last edited by Pieter B. Pelser, 2021 / Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines
(3)
Mensira / ITTO: Lesser Used Species
(4)
Ilex cymosa / AsianPlantNet
(5)
Ilex cymosa / National Parks: FLORA& FAUNA WEB
(6)
Ethnobotanical study of wild medicinal plants in Serbajadi protected forest of East Aceh District, Indonesia / Zidni Ilman Navia, Adnan, Tisna Harmawan, Adi Bejo Suwardi / BIODIVERSITAS, 2022; 23(10): pp 4959-4970 / pISSN: 1412-033X / eISSN: 2085-4722 / DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d231001
(7)
Ilex cymosa / Mangrove Guidebook for Southeast Asia
(8)
Herbs from Peat Swamp Forests in Narathivas, Thailand / Tasanee Kitirattrakarn, Choojit Anantachoke
(9)
Holly / Wikipedia

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)