page_title: Ilex vomitoria
section_title: Ecology
hierarchical_section_title: Ilex vomitoria / Ecology
caption_attribution_description: An Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) in winter plumage, eating the bright red berries of a Weeping Holly tree. Photo taken with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 in Johnston County, North Carolina, USA.
context_page_description: Ilex vomitoria, commonly known as yaupon or yaupon holly, is a species of holly that is native to southeastern North America. The word yaupon was derived from the Catawban yą́pą, from yą- tree + pą leaf. Another common name, cassina, was borrowed from Timucua. The Latin name comes from an incorrect belief by Europeans that the plant caused vomiting in certain ceremonies.
  The plant was traditionally used by Native Americans to make an infusion containing caffeine. It is among a very few plants endemic to North America that produce caffeine. The plant is also widely used for landscaping in its native range.
context_section_description: The fruit are an important food for many birds, including Florida duck, American black duck, mourning dove, ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, wild turkey, northern flicker, sapsuckers, cedar waxwing, eastern bluebird, American robin, gray catbird, northern mockingbird, and white-throated sparrow. Mammals that eat the fruit include nine-banded armadillo, American black bear, gray fox, raccoon and skunks. The foliage and twigs are browsed by white-tailed deer.
caption: An eastern bluebird eating the bright red berries from an Ilex vomitoria.
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