288 



LIME : HOLLY 



/"XX 



*V / \ a - \ f vw - ; > 



Fig. 107. Lime, Tilia europaa. A, inflorescence fused with its bract 

 a, at the base of which is a bud b; B, plan of a flowering shoot; 

 C, plan of the inflorescence and bud of A, corresponding to the group 

 subtended by the leaf 3 in B, p. 286 (Ei). 



Inflorescence devoid of adherent bract; 

 stamens equal in number to the sepals 

 and petals, flowers small. 



Corolla white, almost gamopetalous ; 

 sepals, petals and stamens 4, rarely 5. 

 flowers in short axillary cymose tufts, 

 sub- dioecious. Shrub with spinescent 

 leaves and no tendrils. 



Ilex Aquifolium, L. Holly (Figs. 108, 109). Shrub 

 or small tree, with hard, polished, spinescent-toothed or, 

 in old plants, more or less entire leaves. 



Flowers small, in short, axillary cymose tufts ; sub- 

 dioecious, or some <J, with exposed honey, and entomo- 

 philous. Sepals 4, minute, yellowish-green, imbricate in 

 bud. Corolla composed of 4 white petals, placed cross- 

 wise, imbricate, very slightly connate at the base. Stamens 

 alternate, inserted with the corolla. Anthers yellow. 

 Pollen ellipsoid, bluntly papillate, with 3 rough bands. 

 Disc none. 



Ovary superior, 4-chambered, one ovule in each chamber. 

 Fruit globoid, as large as a pea, red, flesh thin. Floral 



