Question: Growing in amongst the rocks just feet from the shore of Trout Pond in Lyme NH, I saw a number …
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Question
Growing in amongst the rocks just feet from the shore of Trout Pond in Lyme NH, I saw a number of these shrubs with decidedly purplish-red petioles. The leaves appear to be entire. I included a picture of the leaves and the bark. Hopefully this is enough to get us to the genus. I've also seen what I believe is another sample of this on the sunny exposed cliffs of Rattlesnake Mountain in Rumney.
Answer
Dear gdewolf, you've photographed Ilex muronata (mountain holly). This is a native shrub of wetlands and exposed, sometimes high elevation, habitats. If you try to look this species up in a book, you will more likely find it under the scientific name Nemopanthus mucronatus. Best wishes.
