Iron holly, an ornamental fruit tree species with multiple functions

Ilex leaves green, delicious fruit, and small and lovely, is a relatively high breeding value of tree species, because it can be both ornamental and edible oh.

Morphological Characteristics of Ilex chinensis

Ilex family, iron holly, evergreen trees or shrubs, 5 - 15 m tall. Branches gray, branchlets more or less ribbed, reddish brown. Leaves alternate, ovoid to elliptic, 4 - 10 cm long, 2 - 4 cm wide, mucronate at both ends, entire, glossy above; lateral veins 8 pairs, both surfaces distinct; papery; petiole 7 - 12 mm long. Flowers unisexual, dioecious, arranged in pedunculate umbels; male peduncle 2 - 8 mm long, pedicel 2 - 4 mm long; calyx ca. 1 mm long; petals 4 - 5, green-white, ovate-oblong, ca. 2.5 mm long; stamens 4 - 5; female flowers smaller, pedicel thicker, 3 - 5 mm long; ovary superior. Drupe globose to ellipsoid, 4.5~6 mm long, red when ripe, with persistent stigma at tip. Flowers bloom from May to June. Fruiting period 9~10 months.

The medicinal value of iron holly

Flavor: bitter, cool. Clearing away heat and toxic materials, relieving swelling and pain.

Appendix:

1. Gastritis, stomach, duodenal ulcer: Jiubiying (two layers of skin), black tiger each 1 liang, tendon [left wood, right party] son 1 money. Dry and grind powder, 2 grams per serving, 2 times a day, children consider reducing.

2. Cold, diarrhea: Jiubiying (two-layer skin) half jin, ground gall grass, Ding Gui grass, South Chinese magnoliavine root each 3 liang, mint 2 liang. Dry, grind into coarse powder and bottle for later use. Each serving 4~6 money, 3~4 times a day, soaked in boiled water.

3. Infantile dyspepsia: rescue must be (two layers of skin), guava leaves each 2 money, cloth residue leaves, charcoal mother each 3 money. Water decoctions are taken 3 to 4 times, 1 dose per day. Fever adds honeysuckle 2 money. Dehydrated persons should be rehydrated properly.

4. Scald: fresh extract leaves or roots 1 jin, washed and mashed, washed with gauze (leaves 1 jin with water half jin, roots 1 jin with water 12 liang), repeatedly rubbed to glue-like, dipped in medicine juice applied to the affected area, dry and then applied. If the liquid is frozen, add a small amount of vegetable oil to dry it.

Cultivation and seedling raising techniques of Ilex chinensis

Seed harvest: fruit of Ilex ferruginea, 10. After ripening in November, it can be harvested. After stacking for several days, rub the poisonous peel again, clean it, put it in a cool and ventilated place to dry, and then sow. If the conditions for sowing are not available, the seeds can also be stored in moist cold river sand for low stratification, and then seeded and propagated when the flowers bloom in the warm spring of the next year.

Seedbed production: available wooden seedbed, the size can be determined according to needs, generally 50~60 cm long, 30~ 40 cm wide, 20~25 cm high, seedbed can be cleaned and disinfected with 2500~ 3000 times potassium permanganate aqueous solution. The substrate can be prepared by 3 parts of forest moldy leaf soil, 3 parts of mountain soil, 2 parts of sandy vegetable garden soil and 2 parts of fine river sand, sprayed with 2000 - 2500 times of Lequ aqueous solution after preparation, sealed with plastic film for 24 - 48 hours, then uncovered, turned out and dried for several days, and then can be sown on the bed.

Sowing method: When planting Ilex tibetica, sift out the seeds, wash them with warm boiled water at about 40℃, sow the seeds in the bed by sowing method, cover the seeds with soil, spray the water thoroughly with a fine hole spray pot, cover the seedbed with straw, and ventilate and keep warm to promote seed development.

Seedling cultivation: seedling transplantation fear high temperature sunburn and drought, to set up shade in time, with 75% shade cover moisture. According to the growth characteristics of Ilex chinensis seedlings, topdressing was carried out at peak stage, fast-growing stage and late growth stage. At-5~-6℃, the top shoots of one-year-old seedlings were not affected by freezing injury. But still pay attention to winter cold. Firstly, potassium fertilizer should be applied after autumn to ensure lignification of seedlings; secondly, the shading time should be reduced appropriately, and the shading net should be gradually removed in early September to increase light and enhance seedling resistance. By adopting the above techniques, the one-year-old seedlings can safely overwinter.

Iron holly generally needs to be cultivated in a land-based way, but friends who have more spacious places in their homes can also choose to cultivate iron holly in a potted way, which can greatly improve the quality and aesthetics of the room.