140 History of Hingham. 



It prefers the hillsides, although very fine specimens are found 

 in rough, swampy land. Its delicate racemes of fragrant yellow 

 flowers in the spring-time, its rich foliage through the summer, 

 and brilliant clusters of scarlet fruit in autumn, make it at all 

 seasons one of the most ornamental wild shrubs. 



TILIACEiE. 



The American Linden (Tilia Americana, L.) grows all along 

 the water line of Hingham from Weymouth River and Huit's 

 Cove, where there are many fine specimens, at intervals on the 

 shores of the inner harbor, and plentifully on the borders of the 

 pretty inlets and coves of Weir River Bay. Although also found 

 inland, it much prefers the immediate neighborhood of the sea. 



ILICINEiE. 



The American Holly {Ilex opaca, Ait.) grows most plenti- 

 fully in the woods of the eastern part of Hingham. although it 

 occurs also elsewhere occasionally, notably at Turkey Hill and 

 near Old Colony Hill. This tree is always brilliant, its shining, 

 polished leaves, armed with spines, being even more noticeable in 

 the winter woods than they are when new and fresh in summer. 

 The small, white flowers are not showy, but the scarlet berries 

 form a striking^ contrast to the evergreen foliage in the winter. 



The Black Alder (Ilex verticillata, Gray). This plant grows 

 everywhere in Hingham, preferring low, wet lands. Its flowers, 

 small and white, are in crowded clusters in the axils of leaves. 

 The brilliant scarlet fruit is the cause of the beautiful display 

 which this shrub makes, all along roadsides in low grounds, and 

 in swamps, through the fall and early winter. 



The Single-berry Black Alder (Ilex laevigata. Gray) grows 

 in Hingham in the deep swamps of the southern borders of the 

 town. It differs from the I. verticillata in having more slender 

 and delicate leaves, and larger, scarcer, and more orange-colored 

 berries. The sterile flowers are on long peduncles. 



The Ink Berry (Ilex glabra, Gray) is found on the high lands 

 of Union Street, Third Division woods, and rarely in the south- 

 ern woods of the town. It is one of the most elegant of shrubs : 

 and is from two to six feet in height, having brightly polished, 

 narrow, evergreen leaves, and shining, black berries. The flowers 

 are white, small, and inconspicuous, as in the other species of 

 Ilex. 



Mountain Holly (Nemopanthes fascicularis, Raf.). An ele- 

 gant shrub, with bluish-green leaves on purple or crimson leaf- 

 stalks. The flowers are white, the fruit crimson-red berries on 

 long red peduncles. It grows in the deeply wooded swamps of 

 South Hingham, and at Turkey Hill and Lasell Street woods. 



