The term HOLLY is a combination of two crossword solutions, ILEX and TREE. ILEX is a genus of evergreen shrubs and trees found in the family Aquifoliaceae, commonly known as holly. The most common species of holly is the English holly (ILEX aquifolium). TREE is a perennial woody plant, typically having a single stem or trunk growing to a considerable height and bearing lateral branches at some distance from the ground. Trees are an important part of the natural environment and provide many benefits to humans, such as providing shade, oxygen, and food.