THE CLONES OF ILEX X ALTACLERENSIS

The broad leaved hollies that were so popular in the Victorian and Edwardian times have been a source of confusion since they first arose in the British Isles around the early 1800's. Several clones have arisen from deliberate crosses between Ilex aquifolium and two subspecies of I. perado while some occurred as branch sports. In a few cases, it is difficult to distinguish the boundary between some clones and I. aquifolium but generally they differ in their more vigorous growth, broader and larger leaves, flowers and fruit.

This poster paper is based on two articles in 'The Plantsman' (1983, 1984) that sorted out related clones into Groups. General characters for each Group are given when necessary, with individual descriptions, history and synonymy. Thus unidentified clones can at least be placed into a Group. Each of the named clones is illustrated by herbarium specimens.

The situation was not helped by 'Balearica' being confused with I. aquifolium L. (I. balearica Desf. non hort.) and 'Maderensis' with I. perado Ait. subsp. perado (I. maderensis Lam. non hort.) while 'Belgica' and 'Belgica Aurea' have been erroneously called I. perado and I. perado 'Aurea' especially in the Netherlands. Ilex perado Ait. is a tender species native to the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores and the Iberian Peninsula. 'Platyphylla' has been mixed-up with I. perado subsp. platyphylla (Webb & Berth.) Tutin var. platyphylla (I. platyphylla Webb & Berth.).