32 FLOWERS OF THE WOODS AND COPSES 



found between May and August. The Holly is an evergreen tree, 

 increased by suckers and seed. 



The flowers are small and often polygamous. The stigmas are 

 liable to be self-pollinated, being stalkless or nearly so, and the awl- 

 shaped anther-stalks therefore hang above them, and self-pollination can 

 easily ensue. Moreover, the male and female flowers are in other 

 cases on different trees or generally so, and in the larger female flowers 

 the sterile stamens are so large that the plant might be both male and 

 female, examples of which type actually exist. The male flowers have 

 a rudimentary pistil. There is little honey, which is exposed. 



The Holly is dispersed by animals. The fruit is edible, and the 

 seeds are dispersed by animals. 



The soil required is a humus soil, the tree being a humus-lover, 

 but it is also a rock plant, and will grow on very barren formations on 

 dry soil. 



The leaves are mined by larvae of Phytomyza ilicis. The beetles 

 Lucanus cervus, Sinodendron cylindricum, Trip lax tenea, and Epiircea 

 angustula visit it. It is also infested by Aspidiotus britannicus, Pce- 

 disca ophthalmicana, Chromatomyia ilicis. The Privet Hawk -moth 

 feeds upon it, also the Azure Blue Butterfly, and the moth Steganop- 

 tycha ncevana. 



Ilex, Pliny, is Latin for Holm Oak; and aquifolium, Pliny, alludes 

 to the sharp-pointed leaf. Holly is A.S. holcgn. 



Holly goes by the name of Aunt Mary's Tree, Christmas, Croco- 

 dile, Free Holly, He Holly, Helver, Holieverd, Hollin, Hollond, 

 Holyn, Holly, She Holly, Holm, Hull, Hulver, Poison berry, Prick 

 Hollin, Spark Holm. He and She Holly are names given to trees 

 with or without prickles. 



In connection with Holly there is a Holly Dance at Holly time or 

 Christmas, when the Holly-bough is a decoration. 



Formerly in Northumberland Holly leaves were used in divining. 

 They were plucked late on a Friday by persons who keep silence from 

 the time they go out till dawn next day, the leaves were collected in a 

 three-cornered handkerchief, and nine were selected when brought home, 

 tied with nine knots in the handkerchief, and placed under the pillow. 



Good dreams accompany the observance of this rite. 



" Get ivye and hull, woman deck up thyne house." 

 And 



" Save hulver and thorne thereof flaile for to make", 



In the time of Pliny, Holly was planted near houses to ward off 



