Holly, Yew and Box 



bush and also in the form of a tree anything 

 from 20 to 80 feet in height, with a trunk several 

 feet in circumference. Growing in the open it 

 assumes the form of a more or less pyramidal 

 bush, clothed with branches from the ground 

 upwards. Planted in a position where it is 

 crowded by other trees it is drawn up, loses its 

 lower branches, and when mature forms a some- 

 what spreading head. 



The evergreen leaves are very dark in colour, 

 alternate, stipulate (the stipules being brown 

 and very minute), more or less oval, 2j to 5 

 inches in length and f to 2 inches wide, coria- 

 ceous in texture, with wavy and intensely spiny 

 margins when young, the spines being fewer in 

 number and sometimes altogether absent on old 

 specimens. The flowers, which are white and 

 fragrant, are borne in axillary clusters during 

 May and early June. They vary in character 

 on different plants and also occasionally on the 

 same plant, some being staminate only, others 

 pistillate, and others again hermaphrodite. The 

 fruits are round, about J of an inch in diameter, 

 bright red when ripe, and contain from one to 

 four triangular seeds. They hang on the trees 

 for several months if undisturbed by unnatural 

 agencies, and have been known to remain until 

 a second year's fruit has been perfected. 



