THALAMIFLOR# 81 
distinctive character. Where it grows in dense 
coverts little else can flourish beneath its thick, dense 
cover, and the ground is usually covered with a layer 
of the dead leaves, skeletonised by natural agents. 
Holly is, when growing singly and exposed to the 
light, a tall tree, witha fairly thick stem, with smooth 
unfurrowed bark, from which at some distance from 
the ground numerous branches spread out hori- 
zontally or in an ascending manner. Frequently a 
dense growth of suckers springs forth from the base 
of the trunk or at some distance from it, obscuring 
the tree habit. 
The leaves are closely set, and glossy but dark, 
and evergreen. They are ovate, with a sinuate 
margin, and beset with long spines, especially at 
the base. The leaves on the upper boughs are 
generally spineless. As a whole the holly is a com- 
pact tree or bush, shading from light as completely 
as the Yew, and like the latter often used as a 
boundary hedge in garden or park, lending itself 
readily to the shears, fantastic shapes being carved 
out of the foliage. 
The flowers are white in umbels or cymes borne 
on short peduncles, and axillary, and numerous. 
The yellow or scarlet berries are round, and contain 
four hard furrowed stones. The corolla is wheel- 
shaped, with four adherent stamens. 
Holly may grow toa height of forty feet, but is 
usually less, or from ten to twenty feet. May to 
August is the time of flowering. 
