Holly, Yew and Box 



ever, happens that " Common Holly" leaves are 

 borne by either of the intermediate varieties. 



In this theory of the origin of certain varieties 

 there is one flaw, for, whilst ferox, crispa and 

 ovata are all classed among the varieties which 

 bear staminate flowers, scotica bears female 

 blooms. 



Looking in another direction we find that, 

 commencing from ferox, we get crispa with few 

 spines and varieties originating from it with spines 

 developed in a very marked degree but few in 

 number, such as latispina and monstrosa, but 

 which show a tendency to get back to typical 

 I. Aquifolium. The inference is that some unto- 

 ward condition has caused the abnormal formation 

 of spines in I. A. ferox, and so fixed it that it 

 cannot revert to I. Aquifolium without going 

 through a series of intermediate stages. 



Some varieties are so well fixed that variations 

 rarely occur, whilst others vary considerably, 

 whole branches often reverting to typical 

 "Common Holly'' or some other variety. The 

 variegated-leaved sorts give ample proof of these 

 peculiarities, for, whilst those forms which have 

 the variegation on the outer parts of the leaves 

 and the inner part green rarely deviate from the 

 typical colour, those varieties which have the 

 centre of the leaf variegated and the border 

 green produce typical green leaves freely. 



As the question frequently arises as to which 



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