Ilex crenata

The Japanese holly or box-leaved holly is in the holly or Aquifoliaceae family and is native to China (Taiwan), Japan, Korea and Sakhalin Island in Russia. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree, growing to a height of 5 m.

• Leaves are close to round, leathery, glossy dark green, small (1–3 cm long and 1–1.7 cm broad), with a wavy margin, sometimes spiny.
• The species is dioecious, with white, 4-lobed flowers.
• Fruit is a black drupe (stone fruit), 5 mm in diameter, containing 4 seeds.