14 HOUGH'S AMERICAN WOODS. 



GENUS ILEX, L. 



Leaves alternate. Flowers lateral, single or clustered and usually perfect (but 

 many are abortive), usually 4 (but sometimes 5-8-) numerous; calyx persistent; petals 

 distinct or scarcely united at the base, obtuse, oval or obovate, spreading; stigmas 

 separate or united. Fruit a berry-like drupe, and usually red or purple. 



(Ilex is an ancient Latin name, but originally applied to a species of Oak.) 



52. ILEX OPACA, AIT. 

 AMERICAN HOLLY. 



Ger., Amerikamsche Steckpalme; Fr., Houx de I'Amerique; Sp., Acebo 



Americano. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves coriaceous, evergreen, oval, smooth, with margins 

 deflexed, wavy and spinous-toothed. Flowers in loose lateral clusters on the new 

 branchlets; calyx-teeth acute. Fruit a red, berry-like drupe, with sulcate nutlets 

 ribbed on the back. 



(Opaca is the Latin for thick, shady.) 



A tree of moderate size and handsome aspect, owing to its rich ever- 

 green foliage, and bright scarlet berries which remain on until spring. 

 Though a shrub in the northern part of its range it sometimes in very 

 favorable localities attains the height of 50 ft. (15 m.) and 3 or 4 ft. (1 m.) 

 in thickness of trunk. The bark is smooth and of a light gray color; 

 greenish when young. 



HABITAT. From Massachusetts southward through the Atlantic and 

 Gulf States, and in the Mississippi valley as far north as Missouri, growing 

 in moist lowlands. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood light, moderately hard, close-grained, 

 compact and easily worked. Its color is buff-white, the heart- wood be- 

 ing only moderately darker than the abundant sap-wood. Specific 

 Gravity, 0.5818; Percentage of Ash, 0.76; Relative Approximate Fuel 

 Value, 0.5774; Coefficient of Elasticity, 64317 ; Modulus of Rupture, 686; 

 Resistance to Longitudinal Pressure, 419; Resistance to Indentation, 

 176; Weight of a Culic Foot in Pounds, 36.26. 



USES. The wood of this species is useful in turnery, for fancy work, 

 and to some extent for furniture. 



The sprays of Holly leaves and berries for decoctions are very 

 popular and too well known to require comment. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES of this species are said to be the same as those 

 of the European Holly (Ilex aquifolium, L.). The berries are emetic, 

 purgative and diuretic, ten or twelve usually being sufficient to produce 

 action. To the leaves are ascribed some diaphoretic and febrifugal vir- 

 tues, owing to a bitter principle known as ilicin, which they contain. * 



*U. 8. Dispensatory, 16th ed., pp. 1823-4. 



