8 ILEX. No. 53. 



Genera Pal^ria and Macucua united to it, are also dis- 

 tinct. The llesc Casque ovVomitoria must form apar- 

 ticuliar genus, jf it ha§ th^ corolla 4 lobed, the stamina 



alternate to itj^i^tta 4 celled berr^ as Elliot says: I pro- 

 pose to call it Hierophyllus dtissine. 



Our Hex opaca wal* formerly bonded with the L aqui- 

 folium of Europe, Alton separated it, although hardly 

 different. It is however a larger fre^e in the Southern 

 States, w^ith leaves less undulate,^ with fewer and smaller 

 teeth, and the berries not on the oIH branches. I have 

 however seen varieties connecting botll^-^ndPersoon says 

 that the I. aquifolium grows also in Virgmi^ The /. 

 opaca is found from Long Island to Elorida^^^hiefly on 

 the Alluvial Region. The berries remain oS th^tree 

 throughout the winter, and form a fine contrast with the 

 deep green leaves. It blossoms in May. It is intro- 

 duced in gardens as ornamental, and forms fine hedges. 

 The bark of the branches is very viscid, and produces 

 the best bird lime by boiling: it contains gum, wax, a 

 yellow resin, many salts, &c. 



The figure 53 represents the variety 1- Macrodon^ 

 with remote large teeth, very near to /. aquifolium^ if not 

 the same. Other varieties noticed by me were 2. Latifo- 

 Ha with broad ovate leaves with rounded base, and small 

 teeth. 3. Acuminata, with narrow and very sharp leaves 

 &c- 4. Globosa^ small, with a globose foliage, &c. 



PROPERTIES. Those of 7. aquifolium and / opaca 

 appear to be the same. The root, bark, leaves, and berries 

 are used. They are mucilaginous and a little bitter, par- 

 ticularly the berries, which are reckoned resolvent, pec- 

 toral, demulcent, and laxative. The decoction and wine 

 has been used for coughs, pleurisy, colics, constipation, 

 fever, gout, rheumatism, &c- and externally as a cata- 



filasm in tumours. Their juice also in jaundice. The 

 eaves have the same but weaker effects. The bark gives 



a fine bitter mucilage, useful in fever, diabetes, and an 

 external application in ffout. Kalm says the leaves 

 boiled in small beer cure pleurisy. 



The Nemopanthus farcicularis or Hex cayiadensiSy 

 found in the Alleghany Mountains and Canada, has per- 

 haps some of the same properties, since the bark is also 

 employed for bird lime, and the wood by turners, &c. 



