142 BUTCHERS' BROOM 



these and forming the centre of the twig are 

 the cells of the interior. 



Butchers' Broom. 



Butchers' Broom (Buscus aculeatus) is 

 generally found in a gravelly soil in the South 

 of England, where it favours woods more than 

 the open country. It is a handsome pltnit, and 

 especially so in the winter, when its bright 

 scarlet berries are matured. 



It is prized as a Christmas decoration, and 

 retains its freshness longer than the holly. 



It is a shrublike plant with thick white 

 roots, which send up a number of stems that 

 grow to a height of some 2 or 3 feet. 



Each stem has many ovate, sharp-pointed, 

 dark green leaves. The flower appears on the 

 upper surface of the leaf. The position of the 

 flower and berry in the centre of the leaf 

 renders this plant very peculiar, and shows 

 another instance of the wonderful variety there 

 is in Nature. 



Ruscus androgynus, a native of the Canaries, 



