THE HOLM, OR EVERGREEN, OAK. 



Qucr'cus 1'lex L. 



Evergreen trees, so characteristic of the warm 

 and moist insular climates of Sub-tropical, or of 

 Warmer-Temperate latitudes, are at once recognised 

 as exceptional in our colder north; and the idea 

 of an Oak-tree is so closely associated in our 

 minds with boughs bare of leaves during the winter, 

 that we are apt to forget that a considerable num- 

 ber of species of this large genus retain their foliage 

 throughout the year. Among these are the Cork 

 Oak {Quercus Su'ber L.), the Kermes Oak (Q. coccif- 

 era L.), and the Green or Live Oak (Q. vi'rens 

 Ait.) ; but the only one that has been cultivated 

 to any extent, or that will grow freely throughout 

 the greater part of our island, is the Holm Oak 

 (Q. Ilex L). 



Though the name " Holly -leaved " more pro- 

 perly belongs to a distinct but allied species, the 

 most prevalent form in Spain, Q. gramun'tia L., 

 there can be little doubt that Q. Ilex derives- 

 its popular name of Holm Oak from the resem- 

 blance which its dark leathery leaves bear to those 

 of our native evergreen, the name of which was 

 often written Holm instead of Holly, and not, as 

 has been suogested, from its flourishins: on holms 

 or islands in rivers. 



It is a native of Southern Asia, from Cochin- 



54 113 



