STAPHYLEACEAE 223 



ILEX 



Shrubs or trees with evergreen, deciduous, alternate, simple, and 

 sometimes spiny leaves. Flowers dioecious; calyx lobes, petals and 

 stamens usually 4 (5); ovary superior, 2-13 celled; style short or absent. 

 Fruit a berry-like, globose or ovoid drupe, with 2-16, bony, 1 seeded 

 stones. 



About 275 species, mostly in N. & S. America and temperate and 

 tropical Asia, 20 or 25 species are found in China, mostly shrubs. In 

 North America and England, several species with deep green, shiny 

 leaves and scirlet berries are used for Christmas decorations. The wood 

 is light, close-grained, soft but tough, and is greatly esteemed for engrav- 

 ing and furniture making. The Hollies are slow growing and are 

 important from the ornamental standpoint only. 



Ilex pernyi Franchet. 



Shrub or small tree. Branchlets pubescent. Leaves evergreen, 

 rhombic-ovate or quadrangular-ovate, dark shiny green, with 1-3 pairs 

 of rigid spines, 2-2.5 cm. long, short petioled. Flowers numerous, 

 sessile. Fruit light red, globose, ovoid, 8 mm. across. 



Central China. A handsome evergreen. 



STAPHYLEACEAE 



Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite or rarely alternate, odd pinnate, 

 with stipules. Flowers perfect, regular, racemed or panicled; sepals, 

 petals, and stamens 5; disk cup shaped ; ovary usually 3 celled ; styles 3, 

 free or connate. Fruit a more or less lobed capsule, or a berry, or 

 drupe-like. 



About 6 genera and 22 species in the north temperate regions. The 

 family is of no economic importance. 



KEY TO GENERA 



I. Leaves opposite, seeds several in each cell; fruits an inflated 



bladdery capsule Staphylea. 



IE. Leaves alternate; seeds 1 in each cell ; fruit berry-like. . Tapiscia. 



