Ilex collina was first collected on 1 September 1933 by E.J. Alexander (Alexander 1934, 1941). Clark (1974) referred the species to Nemopanthus on the basis of “obviously apopetalous corollas of narrow petals, stamens that are free from the corolla, inconspicuous calyx lobes in staminate flowers and calyx lobes in pistillate flowers which are deciduous or semipersistent as the fruit matures.” Ilex collina is currently known from eight counties in the three states (Clark 1974, Harvill et al. 1986). Clark (1974) summarized its range as follows: from Swain County, North Carolina through southwest Virginia to Randolph County, West Virginia.