Holly, Yew and Box 



Of all the well marked varieties, ferox is 

 probably the oldest, and has been the originator 

 of some of the most distinct and interesting of 

 the garden forms. Its origin is doubtful, though 

 it was probably found wild in France. Miller, 

 Martyn's edition, says that Mr George London 

 introduced it from France into English gardens, 

 and he considered it a good species as he found 

 that it came true from seeds. He also reports it 

 as being found in Canada, and as being hardy 

 there. From these two assertions I am inclined 

 to think that Martyn must have confused this 

 with something else, for so far as personal obser- 

 vations go, and from what I can learn from 

 other people, the true " Hedgehog Holly," I. A. 

 ferox, produces male flowers only, and it is not 

 mentioned in lists of N. American trees. As a 

 set off against Miller's statement, Parkinson in 

 1640 (Theatrum Botanicum, pp. 1486-7} gives 

 the variety echinatum, which is synonymous with 

 ferox, and describes it as "a Holly with leaves 

 wholly prickly," and goes on to say, "this 

 differeth not from the ordinary sort, either in 

 body, fruite, roote, or use, only in the leafe, 

 which is no less armed, with sharp prickles all 

 upon as about the edges thereof." From this it 

 was evidently in cultivation before London's 

 time. Parkinson, however, refers to fruit so that 

 it would appear as if a fruiting form was known. 

 There is just the possibility that the two varieties, 



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