Common Name:

General Information

Ilex cerasifolia is a deciduous tree with a dense, low and wide crown; it can grow 4 - 7 metres tall. The short, cylindrical bole is usually crooked, it can be 25 - 40cm in diameter[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - central and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Found in forests, savannah and the transition zone between, in both open and shady situations; favouring deeper, well-drained soils of at least moderate fertility, but indifferent to the moisture levels in the soil[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun to moderate shade[]. Indifferent to moisture levels in the soil[]. Prefers a deep, well-drained soil[].
A slow-growing plant[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is fine-textured, straight-grained, moderately heavy, with poor mechanical properties and not durable. It can be used for internal applications in construction, for light cabinet making, tool handles, agricultural implements, toys and boxes[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the seed in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can generally be expected from untreated seed, with the seed sprouting within 60 - 90 days[].

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