A small evergreen tree or shrub which can reach up to more than 20m in height with a conical or cylindrical crown (Peterken & Lloyd 1967). The bark is smooth and grey but does eventually become fissured with age. The twigs are glabrous and green although they may be pubescent when young. The leaves are one of its most characteristic features: they are 3-10cm long, thick and leathery with large triangular spines or pointed prickles. The number and size of prickles on individual trees varies greatly. Leaves are dark green and glossy on the above side but paler underneath (Clapham, et al. 1987). Higher up the stem they tend to become more oval and without spines (Vedel and Lange, 1978). Ilex responds vigorously to cutting and pollarding and, as when damaged by other factors such as fire, regenerates as a multi-stemmed form.