Handbook of Trees of the Nokthekn States and Canada. Sl'6 



Tlie Holly is a beautiful evergreen, whose 

 leaves and bright berries add to the cheer of 

 Christnias-tinie in almost every home through- 

 out llic land, iiiul are familiar objects to many 

 who do not have an opportunity of seeing a 

 growing tree, though a common object in the 

 forests of the Southern States. There it at- 

 tains the height of 40 or 50 ft. with a narrow 

 pyramidal top of many horizontal or drooping; 

 hxteral branches and a smootli-barked trunk 

 occasionally 2 or 3 ft. (rarely more) in diame- 

 ter. 



It occupies well-drained slopes and bottom- 

 lands in company with various Oaks and Hick- 

 ories, the Red Cedar, Whitewood, Magnoliiis, 

 Hornbeam, etc., rarely if ever forming exclu 

 sive forests. Few trees equal it in ornamental 

 value, especially in late autumn and winter. 

 when its associates are mostly bare and leaf- 

 less and its bright red berries show in strong 

 contrast to its dark green leaves. But alas! 

 w'ith many a fine tree its beauty causes its 

 downfall, so great is the demand for its sprays 

 for Christmas decoration. 



The wood is light, a cubic foot weigliini,' 

 36.26 lbs., tough, close-grained and nearly 

 white, and is valued in turnerJ^ in cabinet- 

 making, etc.i 



Lrnvcs persistent, elliptical to obovate. spiny- 

 tippod and with few spiny toptli or occasionally 

 entire, thick, coriacious. dull dark Rioon and cen- 

 trally grooved above, paler, yellowish m-eeii and 

 pubescent beneath. Flnirrrs in the spriiii;. from 

 the axils of the new leaves or scattered at the l)ase . 

 of the growth, the staminate in .^-0-flowered 

 cymes, the pistillate singly or 2-.S together ; calyx 

 acute, cilliate. Fruit: drupe subglobose. V, in. in 

 diameter, red or rarely yellow ; nutlets promi- 

 nently ribbed. = 



1. A. W., Ill, .52. 



2. For genus see p. 44;". 



