HOLLY TRlBfi 



187 



2. Monotropa (Birds'-nest) 



I. M. hypopitys (Pine Bird's-nest, Fir-rape). The 

 only British species, occurring sparingly in dry woods 

 of Fir and Beech, on the roots of which trees it is said 

 by some to be parasitical. The whole plant consists 

 of a single juicy stalk, without leaves, but clothed 

 throughout with scaly brads, and terminating in a 

 drooping cluster of brownish yellow flowers, which 

 eventually turn almost black. This must not be con- 

 founded with plants of the genus Orobanche, which all 

 have a ringent corolla of 1 petal, and 4 stamens, 

 two of which are shorter than the others. The 

 flowers of Monotropa have 8 stamens, with the excep- 

 tion of the terminal one, which has 10. Local in 

 England and Southern Scotland. Fl. June to August. 

 Perennial. 



Natural Order XLIX 

 ILICINE^. The Holly Tribe 



Monotropa 

 Hypopitys 

 (Pine Bird's- 

 nest, Fir- rape) 



Sepals 4-6, imbricated when in bud ; corolla 

 4 to 6-lobed, imbricated when in bud ; stamens 

 inserted into the corolla, equalling its lobes in number, 

 and alternate with them ; filaments erect ; anthers 

 2-celled, opening lengthwise ; ovary fleshy, abrupt, 2 to 6-celled ; 

 stigma nearly sessile, lobed ; fruit a fleshy berry, not bursting, con- 

 taining 2-6 bony seeds. Evergreen trees or shrubs, with tough 

 leaves and small axillary, white or greenish flowers, occurring in 

 various parts of the world, the only European species being the 

 common Holly. Nearly all the plants of this tribe possess astringent 

 and tonic properties. The leaves of Holly, for instance, are said to 

 be equal to Peruvian bark in the cure of intermittent fever. The 

 berries are, undoubtedly, poisonous. The bark furnishes bird-lime, 

 and the wood, which is white and remarkably close-grained, is much 

 used by cabinet-makers in inlaying ; whilst its green twigs, as well 

 as those of Hazel and Willow, are employed by water-finders, 01 

 water-diviners, in their remarkable and obscure art of " dowsing." 



/. Paraguayensis furnishes mate, or Paraguay Tea, which is so 

 extensively used in Brazil and other parts of South America. 



1. Ilex (Holly). Calyx 4 to 5-cleft ; corolla wheel-shaped, 4 to 

 5-cleft ; stamens 4-5 ; stigmas 4-5 ; berry round, containing 4-5 

 bony seeds. (Name applied by the Latins to some tree, though not 

 our Holly.) 



O 



