TETRAND. TETRAG. 57 



2. TETllAGYNIA. 



13. ILEX. 



1. I. aqvifoUa {common Holly), leaves ovate acute spinous. 

 Lighff.p. 121. E. B. t. 496. 



Hab. Woods and hedges. Abundant in woods about Lanark, Ilopk. 

 Fl. May, June. T2 . 



A small evergreen tree with smooth gi'ayish bark. Leaves alternate, 

 deep shining green, very rigid, the lower ones remarkably spinous 

 at the margin, upper ones entire-'. Flowers in the axils of the 

 leaves, clustered. Cal. slightly hairy, small. Cor. white. Berries 

 bright scarlet. Excellent for fences, as it bears clipping well. Of 

 the mucilaginous bark bird-lime is made. With the leaves and 

 berries the houses and churches are adorned at Christmas, a relic 

 probably of Druidism, during the prevalence of which, according to 

 Dr. Chandler, " houses were decked with them, that the sylvan 

 spirits might repair to them and remain unniped by frost and cold 

 winds, until a milder season had renewed the foliage of their darling 

 abodes." 



14. POTAMOGETON. 

 * Upper leaves Jioating. 



1. P. nalans {hroacl-le.aved Pond-iueed), upper leaves floating 

 coriaceous oblongo-ovate petiolate, lower ones membranous 

 lanceolate gradually tapering into a footstalk. Ligktf. p, 121. 

 E. B. t. 1822. 



Hab. Lakes and still waters. Fl. July. %. 



Varying much in length, often many feet. Upper leaves green, acute, 

 sometimes heart-shaped at the base where the petiole is inserted. 



2. P. heterophyllum [various-leaved Po7id-ioeed) , upper leaves 

 coriaceous elliptical petiolate, lower ones membranous linear- 

 lanceolate sessile (peduncle clavate, Sm.). E. B. t. 1285. 



Hab. In Bardowie Loch, E. side, plentiful, Ilopk. Lakes of Rcscalin 



and Balgowie, Augus-shire, G. Don. 

 Smaller tlian the last, upper leaves olivaceous. 



3. V.Jluitans {long-leaved floating Pond-tveed), upper leaves 



^ This has not escaped the notice of our poet Southey. 



■" O reader! hast thou ever stood to see 

 The holly tree? 



The eye that contemplates it well perceives 

 Its glossy leaves ; 



Ordered by an intelligence so wise. 

 As might confound the atheist's sophistries. 



53elow, a circling fence, its leaves are seen 



Wrinkled and keen; 



No grazing cattle through their prickly round 



Can reach to wound ; 



But, as they i;io\v where nothiiig is to fear, 



looiuoch -iXini iinanued the pointless leaves appear," &c. 



