HOLLY 203 



B. LEAVES ALTERNATE AND SPIRALLY INSERTED 



ON THE LONG ERECT SHOOTS, SPIRAL OR DI- 

 STICHOUS ON OTHERS. 



(1) Leaves lobed, or cut into broad teeth too [For (2) 

 large to be regarded merely as serration 8ee P- 231 

 or dentation. 

 (a) Lobing and venation pinnate. [For (b) 



see p. 216.] 

 [In certain cases the lowermost secondaries start from 



the base of the lamina, with the midrib, and diverge into 

 the basal lobes: when these latter ribs and lobes are 

 longer than those above, the leaf passes from pinnate 

 towards palmate, and the intermediate stages may be 

 termed pseudo-palmate. See p. 62.] 



(i) Leaf oblong, evergreen, polished, hard, cut 

 into large triangular spinose lobe-like teeth, 

 often twisted out of the general plane, 

 bordered by a tough marginal vein. 



Ilex Aquifolium, L. Holly (Fig. 61). Small tree 

 with crowded sub-verticillate branches and spinescent 

 leaves, persisting more than a year. Petiole short, stipules 

 obsolete (see p. 20). Lamina ovate, oblong or elliptic, 

 acute or acuminate, 6 10 x 3 5 cm., stiff and leathery, 

 tough and thick, the margins and even surface much 

 waved; glabrous, deep shining green above, paler and 

 duller beneath. Teeth strong and sharp, and, like the 

 margins, strengthened by a cartilaginous rim, and not 

 always attaining the size of lobes : on old stems the upper 

 leaves may be entire or with a few small spinescent teeth 

 at the apex. Dead leaves yellow, falling in summer. 

 Forms with variegated leaves and with spines over the 

 surface occur. 



