TETRAND. TETRAG. 57 



2. TETHAGYNIA. 



13. ILEX. 



I. I. aqtrifolia (common Holly), leaves ovate acute spinous. 

 Light/, p. 121. E. B. t. 496. 



HAB. Woods and hedges. Abundant in woods about Lanark, Hopk. 

 Fl. May, June, fy . 



A small evergreen tree with smooth grayish hark. Leaves alternate, 

 deep shining green, very rigid, the lower ones remarkably spinous 

 at the margin, upper ones entire 11 . Flowers in the axils of the 

 leaves, clustered. Cal. slightly hairy, small. Cor. white. Berries 

 bright scarlet. Excellent for fences, as it bears clipping well. Of 

 the mucilaginous bark bird-lime is made. With the leaves and 

 berries the houses and churches are adorned at Christmas, a relic 

 probably of Druidism, during the prevalence of which, according to 

 Dr. Chandler, " houses were decked with them, that the sylvan 

 spirits might repair to them and remain unniped by frost and cold 

 winds, until a milder season had renewed the foliage of their darling 

 abodes." 



14. POTAMOGETON. 

 * Upper leaves foaling. 



1. P. natans (broad-leaved Pond-weed], upper leaves floating 

 coriaceous oblongo -ovate petiolate, lower ones membranous 

 lanceolate gradually tapering into a footstalk. Light/', p. 121,. 

 E. B.t. 1822. 



HAB. Lakes and still waters. Fl. July. JJ. . 



Varying much in length, often many feet. Upper leaves green, acute, 

 sometimes heart-shaped at the base where the petiole is inserted. 



2. P. heterophyllum (various-leaved Pond-weed), upper leaves 

 coriaceous elliptical petiolate, lower o'nes membranous linear- 

 lanceolate sessile (peduncle clavate, Sm.). E. B. t. 1285. 



HAB. In Bardowie Loch, E. side, plentiful, Hopk. Lakes of Rescalin 



and Balgowie, Augus-shire, G. Don. 

 Smaller than the last, upper leaves olivaceous. 



3. P. fluitans (long-leaved floating Pond-weed), upper leaves 



a This has not escaped the notice of our poet Southey. 



" O reader! hast thou ever stood to see 

 The holly tree? 



The eye that contemplates it well perceives 

 Its glossy leaves ; 



Ordered by an intelligence so wise, 

 As might confound the atheist's sophistries. 



Below, a circling fence, its leaves are seen 



Wrinkled and keen ; 



No grazing cattle through their prickly round 



Can reach to wound; 



But, as they grow where nothing is to fear, 



Smooth and unarmed the pointless leaves appear," &:c. 



