Hex ofjui/oliian, 



THE EUROPEAN HOLLY. 



Synojir/mcs, 



lUx aquifolium, 



Hoax, grand Housson, A?ron prrand pardon, 



Stechpalme, Siechpahncnbauui, Stcch- " 

 baum, Stecheiche, Stechlaub, Stcchap- 

 fel, Stechwinde, Hulse, Hulsenbaum, 

 Hulsenstrauch, Hullgenholz, Myrten- 

 dom, Christdorn, IMausedorn, Zwiesel- 

 dorn, Kleezbusch, Walddistel, 



Agrifoglio, AUora spinoso, Leccio spinoso, 



Acebo, Acervnno, Agrifolio, 



Azevinho, Agrifolio, 



Schubbig Hardkelk, 



Waefoscheld, Ostrolfof, Padub, 



Holly, Hulver, Hulfere, Holm, 



LiNMjKns, Species Plantarum. 

 De Ca.ndolle, Prodromus. 

 Don, Miller's Dictionary. 

 LoDDON, Arboretum Britannicum. 

 Seldy, British Forest Trees. 

 France. 



Germany. 



Italt. 



Spain. 



portitgal. 



Holland. 



RirssiA. 



Britain and Anglo- America. 



Dtrivationa. The specific name, a/]uifolium, ia derived from the Latin acutum, sharp, and folium, a leaf, in alluslou ^o 

 the sharp points of the leaves. The Greek authors called this species agria, that is, wild, or of the fields ; whence some of the 

 French, Spanish, Italian, and Portueuese names. The Enarlish name, holly, is probably a corruption of the word, holy, from 

 its being used to commemorate the' holy time of Christmas, not only in houses, but in churches. The German name, Christ- 

 dorn, the Danish name, C/irislorn, and the Swedish name, Christtorn, would seem to justify the same conjecture. 



Engravings. Selby, British Forest Trees, pp. 37 el 47; Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, v., pi. 64 ; and the figures below. 



Specific Characters. Leaves shining, wavy, ovate, spiny-toothed, and sometimes entire. Pedimcles aiil- 

 .ary. Flowers nearly umbellate. Fruit a 4-celled berry, globose, and containing four solitary, homy, 

 oblong seeds, rounded on one side, and cornered on the other. 



Description. 





***** "et ilium nemo impune lacesait." 

 "Touch me, I '11 prick." 



!HE European Hol- 

 ^ 'TP t^ ly is ''- handsome 



E LI \i 



(v^k conical, evergreen 

 "^ tree, growing to a 

 height of twenty or thirty feet, in a wild 

 state, with a trunk from eighteen inches 

 to two feet in diameter, and to double 

 these dimensions in a state of cultivation. 

 In viewing it as a hedge-plant, or as an 

 ornamental tree or shrub, it is not sur- 

 passed by any other evergreen whatever, 

 whether we look upon it in its native 

 woods, with its shining, deep-green leaves 

 and coral-red berries, which persist for 

 half the year, or in its numerous variega- 

 tions of silver or golden leaves, and its 

 white or yellow fruit. 



Varieties. In general, the deviation 

 from the common form and colour observ- 

 able in wild plants, or in those in a state 

 of cultivation, more especially in trees and 



