Also 8 yaupan, yopon, yappon. [North Carolina.] An evergreen shrub or small tree (Ilex Cassine or vomitoria), allied to the holly, growing in Texas and Southern U.S.; a decoction of the leaves (yapon tea) is used as an emetic and purgative. Also called Appalachian or Carolina tea.
a. 1712. Lawson, Hist. Carolina (1714), 91. Yaupon, call’d by the South Carolina Indians cassena, is a bush that grows chiefly on the sand banks and islands.
1723. J. Brickell, Nat. Hist. Carolina (1737), 319. They drink great quantities of yaupan ten.
1775. Adair, Amer. Ind., 361. The Yopon, or Cusseena.
1786. Abercrombie, Arr., in Gard. Assist., 42. Yappon tree.
1884. G. P. Lathrop, True, ii. 13. That kind of holly known in the region [N. Carolina coast] as yaupon.
