HOLLY FAMILY 131 



those not familiar with it an unusual harvest of fine 

 huckleberries. 



The handsome Dahoon holly, I, Cassine, a small tree 

 with light gray bark and many red ^'berries/' grows in 

 damp soil near lakes and streams. The leaves are variable 

 in shape. 



Yaupon, I. vomitoria, a small-leaved holly, was an hon- 

 ored tree of the southern Indians, who from its leaves made 

 their famous "black drink." Men, alone, were permitted 

 to take it; an honor the women may have been happy to 

 escape. At certain times the warriors went in large 

 numbers to some locality where yaupon was abundant, and 

 in a great kettle made a strong decoction of the leaves. 

 Large quantities were swallowed, but seldom retained. 

 For several days the Indians continued this practice, and 

 the rare few who were able to drink and retain the draughts 

 were entrusted with the most honorable and difficult com- 

 missions. 



Early white settlers of the southern states prepared 

 from the dried and roasted leaves of yaupon, and some- 

 times from those of the Dahoon holly, a much milder 

 drink, which they used as a substitute for tea. The leaves 

 of the South American yerha mate, I. paraguariensis, 

 contain a similar principle, and are used for the favorite 

 beverage of that name, sometimes called Paraguay tea. 

 The prepared leaves may be bought in the larger cities 

 of this country. 



The spiny-leaved holly used in Christmas decorations, 

 7. opaca, is found in the peninsula, but is less common 

 than in the northern part of the state. 



Hex glabra. Gallberry. Inkberry. Winterberry. Shrub 

 2-5 ft. tall. Leaves evergreen, usually broadened upward, 

 entire or toothed toward apex, 1-2 in. long. Flowers white, 

 small, in clusters in leaf-axils. Sepals, petals, and stamens 

 4-6 each. Fruit black. Sandy soil, often in damp locationi. 

 Blooming in spring. Fla. to Mass. and La. 



