80 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 
The common holly is a tree, when wild, with smooth 
bark, and spreading, slender branches. 
The flowers are white, very small, and borne in the 
axils in cymes, and are unisexual. 
The calyx has three to six sepals, which in the bud 
overlap. The corolla is made up of four to six white 
petals, also over-lapping in bud. There is no disc. 
The petals, which are not persistent, may be distinct 
or united at the base only. The stamens are inserted 
on the corolla alternating with the petals ; the ovary 
is two-celled. The berry is a fleshy drupe, red when 
ripe, and contains two to six stony seeds. It does 
not burst when ripe. 
Holly is found in woods and hedges when native, 
and is most abundant in the Western counties, but is 
frequently planted for pheasant covers. 
THE Hotty (llex Aqusfolium). 
In nearly every county in England and Wales, as 
well as Scotland and Ireland, Holly is found as a 
native plant, but it is frequently planted. 
In a state of nature it is found in woodlands, 
where it forms a thick bush or scrub, but in more open 
habitats it assumes the tree habit. Hilly country 
is especially favourable to the growth of holly, which, 
like the Scotch Pine, can exist upon stony, barren 
ground, where other plants are not able to exist. 
Hedgerows in such regions are frequently planted at 
intervals with holly, giving the wayside vegetation a 
