American Holly

Name	American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Type	Hardwood.
Other Names	Also known as evergreen, white, Christmas, prickly, scrub, and dune holly.
Sources	Grows in eastern half of United States.
Appearance	Indistinct, close grain with no obvious figure and a fine texture. Ivory-white heartwood and white sapwood - sapwood usually much wider than the heartwood.
Physical Props	Moderately heavy and hard, with good shock resistance, and low bending strength, stiffness, and decay resistance. Steam-bends poorly.
Working Props	Generally machines well but irregular grain can cause problems. Sands and turns easily and polishes to a fine luster. Glues, screws, and nails well. Stains and finishes satisfactorily - sometimes stained black to simulate ebony.
Uses	Used for turnery, carving, piano and organ keys, marquetry and inlay, wood block engravings, novelties, fixtures, handles, T-squares, fixtures, and furniture.