Scientific Name
Ilex vomitoria
Common Name
Yaupon holly

CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Aquifoliaceae
Plant Description
Evergreen shrub or small tree; leaves alternate, simple, elliptical, shallowly toothed; flowers axillary, small, white; fruit a red or rarely yellow berry.
Origin
USA, NC.
Distribution
Coastal Plain; cultivated.
Where Found
Forest or natural areas along coast, low maritime forests; landscape as cultivated small trees and shrubs.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Berries.
Symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: The young leaves may be picked, browned and dried in an oven, steeped in hot water and used to make Yaupon tea. It contains caffiene. SOURCE: Peterson, L. 1978. A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 330 pp.
Toxic Principle
Illicin, possibly saponic glycosides, and triterpenoids.
Severity
CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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