340 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



the neighborhood of London, the plants, at two years from the 

 seed, may be procured at 3s. per 1000 ; transplanted plants, one 

 foot or more in height, at 10s., about $2 25 per 1000. Some 

 of the many varieties, particularly the weeping ash, are prized 

 for their beauty. 



The green ash may, hereafter, be found in Massachusetts, as 

 it occurs in Canada. There are many other ash trees, probably 

 thirty, but these are the best. 



FAMILY XVI. THE HOLLY FAMILY. AQUIFOLIACEJE. 



De Candolle. 



This consists of evergreen or deciduous shrubs or trees, with 

 alternate or opposite leaves, which are often smooth and coria- 

 ceous, and small, solitary or fascicled perfect flowers, or flowers 

 wanting stamens or pistil, growing from the axils of the leaves. 



The calyx and corolla are imbricate in the bud before open- 

 ing. The calyx has four or six divisions. The corolla four to 

 six lobes, united at their base, and there arc as many stamens, 

 inserted into it and alternate with its lobes. The ovary has 

 two, six, or eight cells, with a pendulous ovule in each. The 

 fruit is fleshy, and opens not spontaneously, with from two to 

 six stones, each containing a pendulous seed. 



The plants of this family are found in various parts of the 

 world ; three genera only in New England. Several of them 

 have valuable properties. The bark and leaves of the European 

 holly have been found efficacious in intermittent ferers. The 

 famous Jesuits' tea of Paraguay is made of the leaves of an- 

 other species of holly. Five millions of pounds are annually 

 produced in that country. An inferior tea is made from another 

 species in Brazil. The aborigines of the Southern States made 

 great use of the infusion of a species of holly as a purifier of the 

 system, and of that made from another plant of this family as 

 an agreeable stimulant. The properties of a species of winter 

 berry will be spoken of hereafter. Many of the species are 

 favorites with the gardener, for their brilliant, evergreen foliage. 



