Article Nº 2825 Plant Vol. III · p. 112
Perado (Ilex perado)
A rare native holly shrub found in a few Madeiran mountain areas, whose white light wood is used for inlay and small cabinetwork.
A shrub from 1 metre to 2.50 m tall, with thick leaves, mucronate or spinulose at the tip and generally spinulose-serrate at the margins; peduncles 1-flowered, rarely 2–3-flowered. It is a rare species, found only at Ribeiro Frio (‘cold brook’) and in the Serras de São Vicente, Seixal and Boa Ventura. The wood of this member of the Aquifoliaceae is white, light and takes a good polish; it is used for inlaid work (embutidos) and other small pieces of cabinetwork, after being boiled in two or three changes of water to remove all the sap. It can take on a bluish colour if steeped in urine or any ammoniacal solution.