Holly, Yew and Box 



leaves are oblong-ovate, sometimes as much as 

 3! inches long, thick in texture, strongly waved, 

 with prominent marginal spines, resembling in 

 form generally, those of the " Common Holly." 

 The surface is unequally flushed with a dull 

 bronzy-yellow hue, which sometimes occupies the 

 upper half of the leaf, sometimes an irregular 

 portion near the centre, other portions of the 

 surface remaining green. This colouring is most 

 strongly marked on the young and year old 

 growths, the older persistent leaves becoming 

 gradually greener. The flush of colours renders 

 this a conspicuous variety and has been likened 

 to "pale moonlight," hence the common name 

 " Moonlight Holly." Shoots bearing leaves of a 

 similar colour may sometimes be found on the 

 purple-barked forms of the aurea marginata group. 

 I. A. ferox aurea = ferox aurea-picta, ferox 

 foliis aureis, and " Gold-blotched Hedgehog." 

 This is a well-marked and very handsome Holly, 

 commonly known as the " Gold-blotched Hedge- 

 hog." It has the young bark purple. The 

 leaves are oblong or ovate-oblong, very strongly 

 spined both at the margin and on the upper 

 surface ; they are also strongly waved, and more 

 or less recurved longitudinally. The surface is 

 of a rich deep green, and the green spines which 

 bristle from its surface have pale tips, while on 

 the plain central portion near the base of the 

 leaf- blade is to be found a conspicuous blotch of 



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