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HOLLY 



{Ilex opaca Ait.) 



nrilE holly occurs sparingly scattered throughout 

 the State. It prefers a rich moist soil, but is 

 also found on the higher and drier situations. It 

 is much less abundant now than formerly, due to 

 the large amount gathered and shipped to the cities 

 for Christmas decorations. 



It is a small evergreen tree, seldom exceeding 30 

 feet in height and 12 inches in diameter. The 

 bark is light gray and 

 roughened by wart-like 

 growths. The numerous 

 short, slender branches 

 form a dense, narrow 

 pyramidal head of strik- 

 ing dark- green col'^r 

 effect, especially when 

 well laden with the con- 

 spicuous red berries. 



The leaves are simple, 



alternate, oval, thick and 



leathery, 2 to 4 inches 



long, and armed with 



spiny teeth ; they persist 



on the branches for about 



three years, then they 



drop off in the spring. 



The flowers are small, whitish and inconspicuous; 



the male and female flowers are usually borne on 



separate trees. 



The fruit, which ripens late in the fall and per- 

 sists on the branches over the winter, is a dull 

 red or sometimes yellow, nearly round berry, about 

 one-quarter of an inch in diameter containing 4 

 to 6 ribbed nutlets. 



The wood is light, tough, not strong, and nearly 

 white. It is valued and much used for cabinet 

 work and wood-turning. For this purpose many 

 of the larger, finer trees have been cut and mar- 

 keted. 



HOLiLY 



Two-thirds natural size. 



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