Ilex aquifolium, 
Hex aquifolium, 
THE EUROPEAN HOLLY. 
Synonymes. 
Linn.eus, Species Plantarum. 
De Candolle, Prodromus. 
Don, Miller's Dictionary. 
Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum. 
Selby, British Forest Trees. 
France. 
Houx, grand Housson, Agron grand pardon, 
Stechpalme, Stechpalmenbaum, Stech- ^ 
baum, Stecheiche, Stechlaub, Stechap- 
fel, Stechwinde, Htilse, Hiilsenbaum, 
Hiilsenstrauch, Hiillgenholz, Myrten- 
dom, Christdorn, Mausedorn, Zwiesel- 
dorn, Kleezbusch, Walddistel, 
Agrifoglio, Allora spinoso, Leccio spinoso, 
Acebo, Acer vino, Agri folio, 
Azevinho, Agrifolio, 
Schubbig Hardkelk, 
Waefoscheld, Ostrokof, Padub, 
Holly, Hulver, Hulfere, Holm, 
- Germany. 
Italy. 
Spain. 
Portugal. 
Holland. 
Russia. 
Britain and Anglo- America. 
Derivations. The specific name, aquifolium, is derived from the Latin acutum, sharp, and folium, a leaf, in allusion m 
the sharp points of the leaves. The Greek authors called this species agria, that is, wild, or of the fields ; whence some of the 
French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese names. The English name, holly, is probably a corruption of the word, holy, from 
its being used to commemorate the holy time of Christmas, not only in houses, but in churches. The German name, Christ- 
dorn, the Danish name, Christom, and the Swedish name, Christtorn, would seem to justify the same conjecture. 
Engravings. Selby, British Forest Trees, pp. 37 et 47 ; Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, v., pi. 64 ; and the figures below. 
Specific Characters. Leaves shining, wavy, ovate, spiny-toothed, and sometimes entire. Peduncles axil- 
lary. Flowers nearly umbellate. Fruit a 4-celled berry, globose, and containing four solitary, horny, 
Oblong seeds, rounded on one side, and cornered on the other. 
Description. 
***** "et ilium nemo impune lacessit." 
"Touch me, I'll prick." 
zB&ggHE European Hol- 
t Tp rcl ty is a handsome 
LJ {( conical, evergreen 
$gm tree, growing to a 
height of twenty or thirty feet, in a wild 
state, with a trunk from eighteen inches 
to two feet in diameter, and to double 
these dimensions in a state of cultivation. 
In viewing it as a hedge-plant, or as an 
ornamental tree or shrub, it is not sur- 
passed by any other evergreen whatever, 
whether we look upon it in its native 
woods, with its shining, deep-green leaves 
and coral -red berries, which persist for 
half the year, or in its numerous variega- 
tions of silver or golden leaves, and its 
white or yellow fruit. 
Varieties. In general, the deviation 
from the common form and colour observ- 
able in wild plants, or in those in a state 
of cultivation, more especially in trees and 
