Gallberry

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An evergreen shrub found in the southeastern United States that produces small edible berries
2. A plant species with glossy leaves and red to black berries commonly used as food by wildlife and sometimes for culinary purposes
3. A type of bush known for its tough leaves and dark berries that serve as both fruit and habitat for various animals

Etymology: The plant takes its name from the taste of its fruit. "Gall" is the Old English "gealla," meaning bile, and the name points to the bitterness of the berries, which are far from the sweet fruit the word "berry" might suggest. The compound "gallberry" is a plain English formation from "gall" and "berry," with no borrowed root behind it. The name is used for shrubs in the holly genus, mainly "Ilex glabra" of the southeastern United States. Its close relative, "Ilex coriacea," is called large gallberry. Beekeepers value the shrub's flowers, and the honey they produce is well known in the Southeast.

Synonyms: Ilex glabra, black alder, holly