04 REMARKABLE FLOWERS.  {cnar. v. 
curious native plant, well known in country districts 
as Knee Holly or Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus aculeatus). 
It is a stiff little shrubby plant, whose chief pecu- 
liarity consists in the situation of the flowers. The 
foot-stalk of the flower is buried beneath the epider- 
mis of the leaf, so that it presents the remarkable 
appearance of a flower growing from the centre of a 
leaf. The leaves are egg-shaped, 
sharply pointed, and tolerably stiff ; 
thus having the attributes of the 
holly, from which it derives one of 
its common names, The flower is 
small, greenish white, and shows up 
like a little star against the dark 
hue of the leaf. The flower is succeeded by large red 
berries, like little cherries. The common name of 
Butcher’s Broom was given to it on account of its 
former use by the butchers for sweeping their blocks, 
and it is still used for sweeping purposes in Italy. 
The entire plant grows to the height of about three 
feet. 
