Ilex mucronata (Linnaeus) M. Powell, V. Savolainen, & S. Andrews. Section: "clade IV". Common name: Catberry, Nemopanthus, Mountain Holly. Phenology: May-Jun; Aug-Nov. Habitat: Bogs, sedge meadows, high elevation glades, and moist, high-elevation forests. Distribution: NL (Newfoundland) west to ON and MN, south to MD, WV, OH, IN, and IL (and allegedly in VA, according to Fernald 1950). C.W. Short's collection of this species in 1840 in "wet lands of Henderson County", KY is well documented (M. Brock, pers.comm., 2024).

ID notes: It can be separated vegetatively from other hollies in the mountain regions of w. VA (I. montana, I. collina, I. opaca, and I. verticillata) by its smaller, narrower, entire (or nearly so) leaves, 2-5 (-6) cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: The debate about the distinctiveness of Nemopanthus from Ilex has now been unequivocally answered, with Nemopanthus to be included in Ilex (Powell et al. 2000; Manen, Boulter, & Naciri-Graven 2002; Selbach-Schnadelback et al. 2009; Manen et al. 2010; Yao et al. 2021; etc.).

Synonymy ⓘ: = Can, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, Clark (2023), Powell et al (2000); = Ilex canadensis Michx.; = Nemopanthus mucronatus (L.) Trel. ex Loes. — C, F, G, WV. Basionym: Vaccinium mucronatum L. 1753

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (name change)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (name change)
• Midwest: OBL (name change)
• Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 6