176 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



has also been applied to it. It has been included in 

 the Corolliflorse or Gamopetalae by some authorities 

 and placed between the Heath Group and the Ash 

 Group. The Hollies are related to the Spindle Wood 

 Group, but the corolla is monopetalous with stamens 

 at the base, and no disc. 



There are nearly two hundred species arranged in 

 five genera. Most of them are natives of America. 



Most of these plants are shrubs or trees, often 

 evergreen. The leaves are alternate, leathery, simple, 

 often spinose. The stipules are exceedingly small, 

 or absent altogether. 



The inflorescence is cymose, often axillary. The 

 flowers are regular, unisexual, often polygamous. 

 The parts are in threes or more. There is no disc. 

 The calyx is gamosepalous, with three to six sepals, 

 usually four, overlapping in bud, and persistent. 



The corolla is monopetalous below, and the four 

 petals are united at the base, or distinct, deciduous, 

 overlapping in the bud. The stamens are four, or 

 four to six, inserted on the base of the petals, alter- 

 nating with them. They are hypogynous. The 

 anther-stalks are erect, slender, awl-like, with oblong 

 two-celled anthers, opening lengthways. The ovary 

 is three- to six-celled, sessile, fleshy. The style is 

 short or absent, with terminal stigmas. The fruit is 

 a drupe, with three or more stones, one-seeded, 

 distinct, or united below, and indehiscent. 



The seeds are hard and bony, with a membranous 

 seed-coat, and possess endosperm. 



