lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 2.5-3.2 mm. long; stamens 5, equal, inserted at 

 the base of the corolla; filaments subulate; disk cylindric; ovary oblong, 2-celled; 

 style short, stigma 2-lobed; ovules 3 (rarely 2 or 4) attached to a short placenta 

 pendulous from the apex of the cell; fruit small, indehiscent, ovoid, subterete, 

 2-3 mm. long, 2-celled, pericarp spongy, cells 1 -seeded. 



In bottomlands, swamps, boggy areas and along streams in s.e. Tex., n. to 

 Trinity Co., May-July; from s. Va., s. to Fla., w. along the coast to Tex. 



We have two noticeably distinct flowering forms; plants with racemes mostly 

 less than 10 cm. long and suborbicular-ovoid apically blunted fruits and plants 

 with racemes more than 10 cm. long and narrowly ovoid pointed fruits. 



Fam. 82. Aquifoliaceae Bartl. Holly Family 



Shrubs or trees, usually evergreen, mostly polygamo-dioecious; leaves alternate, 

 simple, usually stipulate, petiolate, margin entire to toothed or sometimes 

 spiny; inflorescence normally cymose, pedunculate or sessile, axillary, solitary 

 or fasciculate. 1- to many-flowered; flowers regular, small, usually 4- to 6-parted, 

 sometimes more; calyx small, free from the ovary and drupe, persistent, the lobes 

 imbricate; corolla white or greenish, deciduous; petals imbricate, rarely valvate, 

 alternate with the sepals, free or united at the base; stamens usually 4 to 6, 

 inserted at the base of the corolla, alternate with the petals, all fertile; filaments 

 subulate, erect, shorter than the petals; anthers introrse, 2-celled, longitudinally 

 dehiscent; staminodia in pistillate flowers similar to stamens, smaller in size, 

 sterile; ovary free, superior, angled or lobed, sessile, usually 2- to 6- (rarely 

 many-)celled; stigma capitate or discoid, usually sessile, with as many lobes as 

 cells in the ovary; ovules 1 (rarely 2) in each cell, suspended, anatropous; ovary 

 in staminate flowers abortive; fruit drupaceous, globose to ellipsoid or rarely 

 lobed, usually containing 4 to 8 (rarely to 18) horny or crustaceous stones; 

 stones smooth, ribbed or striate, usually 1 -seeded; seed suspended, the testa 

 membranaceous, the fleshy endosperm copious. 



A family of three genera containing about 500 species. 



1. Hex L. Holly 



Shrubs or trees; leaves alternate, petiolate, persistent or deciduous, entire to 

 dentate or spinescent; stipules minute, deciduous; staminate and pistillate flowers 

 on separate plants or occasional flowers appearing perfect, small, axillary, cymose, 

 fasciculate or solitary, usually pedicellate; calyx minute, 4- to 9-parted, persistent; 

 corolla rotate; petals 4 to 9, hypogynous. elliptic or oblong, obtuse, free or 

 united at the base, white or greenish, deciduous; stamens inserted on the base of 

 the corolla, as many as and alternate with the petals; filaments subulate; anthers 

 attached on the back, oblong, usually rudimentary in the fertile flower; ovary 

 free, sessile, subcylindrical, usually 2- to 8-celled, rudimentary in the sterile 

 flower; style usually wanting; stigmas as many as the cells of the ovary, distinct 

 or confluent; ovules 1 or 2 in each cell, suspended from near the apex, collateral, 

 anatropous; fruit drupaceous, subglobose, crowned by the persistent stigma, 

 usually containing 4 to 8 bony or crustaceous stones; stones 1 -seeded, smooth, 

 ribbed or striate. 



A genus of about 400 species, widely distributed over the temperate and 

 tropical regions of the world, most abundant in China. 



Many species are grown as ornamentals. Their usually brightly colored fruits 

 and mostly evergreen foliage are not only attractive to man, but many species of 

 birds and small mammals eat their fruits and seek their year around shelter. 



1097 



