AQUIFOLIACE^. HOLLY TRIBE. 



405 



rare. P. media has an erect, nearly-straight style 

 much longer than the stamens ; this is very common in 

 Scotland, and has also been found in Oxfordshire. 



2. MON6TROPA (Bird 's-nest). 



1. 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 through- 

 out* with scaly bracts, and terminating in a drooping 

 cluster of brownish yellow flowers, which eventually turn 

 almost black. This must not be confounded with the 

 plants of the genus Orobanche, which all have a ringent 

 corolla of 1 petal, and four stamens, two of which are 

 shorter than the others. The flowers of Monotropa 

 have 8 stamens, with the exception of the terminal one, 

 which has 10. Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



ORD. LIL AQUIFOLIACE^ THE HOLLY TRIBE. 



Sepals 4 6, imbricated when in bud ; corolla 4 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 6-celled ; stigma 

 nearly sessile, lobed ; fruit a fleshy berry, not bursting, 

 containing 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 the Holly, for instance, are 

 said to be equal to Peruvian bark in the cure of inter- 

 mittent fever. The berries are, undoubtedly, poisonous. 



