144 HOLLY 



The Privet, Ligustrum vulgare, is frequently sub-ever- 

 green, its opposite lanceolate leaves persisting more or less 

 until the new ones appear (see p. 173). 



{/3) Buds large and conspicuous ; leaves 

 hroad-lanceolate and large, bright green, 

 glossy and supple. 



Aucuha japonica, Thunb. Aucuba. Often termed 

 Laurel, but has nothing botanically in common with 

 Laurus. The leaves are often variegated. 



(b) Buds, leaves and twigs alternate. 



(i) Plant armed with spines or thorns. Buds 

 minute. 



(a) Leaves large, simple and spinescent, 

 toothed, glossy green. 



Ilex Aquifolium, L. Holly (Fig. 66). Unmistakeable 

 when bearing its red berries, but the spines 'are some- 

 times obsolete. The terminal bud is slightly larger than 

 the axillary ones. Each begins with two scales, to right 

 and left of the axis, enclosing a third one next the axis, 

 all folded one over the other. Only about four scales 

 show outside. They are leaves, and are spirally arranged. 

 Close examination shows that each leaf in the bud has 

 two minute stipular points at the base, which abort as the 

 bud opens. This recognition of the Holly as stipulate 

 dates from Henry's observation in 1846 : Reissek con- 

 firmed it in 1861, and Kronfield also figures them in 

 Engler and Prantl, PJl. Fam. in. Th., 5 Abt., p. 183, 1896. 



(/8) Buds obscured by the numerous and 

 much branched green branch - thorns ; 

 leaves and scars none or rare. 



