The leaves of the Ilex cornuta, a member of the Aquifoliaceae family, turn red in the fall. It is a deciduous shrub that can grow to a height of 1-2m. The bark is gray in color. The twigs are either covered in coarse hairs or nearly hairless, with visible lenticels. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stem, with a leaf stalk that is 6-8mm long. The leaf blade is membranous and elliptical, obovate, or oblong-elliptical in shape, measuring 2-9cm long and 1-4cm wide. The apex is gradually pointed, while the base is wedge-shaped. The leaf margin has pointed serrations. The upper surface of the midrib is concave, while the lower surface is convex. The veins form a distinct network, and both sides of the leaf are sparsely covered in coarse hairs. The fruit of the Ilex cornuta is spherical, with a diameter of approximately 5mm. It is red in color and contains 4-5, rarely 1, stony seeds. The fruit is broadly elliptical and has a smooth back and a leathery inner pericarp. The flowering period is from August to September, and the fruiting period is in October.
