Spiny holly

On return path of the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, a real Florida holly, dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) is full of showy red berries. Unlike some of the well-know “northern” hollies, which have glossy leaves with very visible spines, dahoon holly has tiny teeth on its leaves, pictured above.

Hollies are dioecious: Male and female flowers are on different plants, so we know from the berries that the fruiting plant at ORCA is a girl …

Because it has red berries at the same time of year, Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) was commonly — and mistakenly — called Florida holly, but this Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 1 invasive pest plant, pictured below, has compound leaves and no teeth.