Ilex mitis (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)

Ilex mitis Aquifoliaceae Indigenous

• English: African holly
• Amargna: Misir gemfo
• Kefgna: Keto
• Oromugna: Hamsika, Miesa, Tilto, Wolkite
• Sidamigna: Mikichio
• Wolaytgna: Misira shendira

The genus Ilex is widespread but there are few in Africa. This species extends from Ethiopia to South Africa being widely distributed but extremely variable. In Ethiopia it frequently occurs along river banks and stream beds, in moist evergreen forests, in semi-humid highland forests and highland woodlands. It is particularly associated with Erica, Croton, Schefflera, Maesa, Podocarpus and Juniperus. It grows well in Moist and Wet Weyna Dega and Dega agroclimatic zones in Wolega, Ilubabor, Shoa, Harerge, Arsi, Bale and Kefa, 1,500–3,000 m.

Firewood, charcoal, timber (local construction), tool handles, farm tools, medicine (bark).

An evergreen shrub or tree, 4–24 m, very variable. The trunk usually short but up to 1 m across.

• BARK: Pale grey-brown, smooth; branchlets with a purple colour.
• LEAVES: Dark green and shiny, long oval to 14 cm, tip pointed, narrowing to a short stalk. The middle deeply channelled into the thick leaf. The edge may have a few sharp spines.
• FLOWERS: Small, white and fragrant, on hairy stalks beside leaves.
• FRUIT: Small, berry-like, yellow-green ripening shiny red. Soft and edible with 4–6 seeds inside.

Seedlings.

• Treatment: Not necessary.

Pruning, lopping, pollarding.

The hard, white wood is used as timber, but the trunk is normally short. This genus includes several hundred members of mainly trees and shrubs

Found mostly in Asia and America.