ILEX 645 



Var. RECURVA. A dwarf kind with small, very spiny leaves, dark green, 

 ovate, i to if ins. long, the midrib much decurved, the blade also twisted. 

 Male. 



Var. SCOTICA. A very distinct sort, with lustrous deep green oval leaves 

 up to 3 ins. long, remarkable for the entire absence of marginal spines ; the 

 apex is sometimes spine-tipped, usually blunt Female. 



Var. SCOTICA AUREA. Has a central blotch of yellow ; a sport from the 

 above; raised by Paul of Cheshunt. 



Var. SHEPHERDII. A fine holly in the way of Hodginsii, but with bright 

 green leaves, the largest of which are 4 ins. long, 2^ ins. wide. 



Var. SMITHII. Of the same type as donningtonensis, but without the intense 

 purple bark and purple tinge in the leaves of that variety. Male. 



Var. WATERERIANA. Waterer's Holly. A dwarf compact kind usually 

 wider than high, and dense in habit. Leaves often quite without marginal 

 spines or only a few ; dark green with a rich yellow border. Male. 



Var. WlLSONi. One of the finest of the platyphvlla or balearica hybrids. 

 Leaves only slightly glossy, up to 5 ins. long by nearly 3 ins. wide, well armed 

 at the edges with spines J in. long. Female. 



I. CORXUTA, Lindley. HORXED HOLLY. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 5059.) 



An evergreen shrub, 8 to 10 ft. perhaps more high ; of bushy, dense, 

 rounded habit, and usually wider than high ; young shoots smooth, pale, and 

 somewhat angular the first year. Leaves leathery, dark glossy green, i^ to 4 

 ins. long, i to 3 ins. wide ; of variable shape, but usually more or less rectangular, 

 often comparable in outline to a flying bat, with four large spines at the coiners 

 representing the outstretched limbs ; there is, in addition, always a terminal 

 spine usually much decurved, and frequently one or two pairs of smaller spines 

 at the sides. The number of spines therefore varies from five to nine, and they 

 are rigid and needle-pointed ; but on the upper branches of old specimens ihe 

 spines are fewer or absent, as in the common holly ; stalk \ in. or less long. 

 Flowers small, dull white, produced in axillary clusters in April. Fruit round, 

 red, larger than in common holly, borne on a stalk ^ to in. long. 



Native of China ; found by Fortune near Shanghai, and sent by him to 

 Messrs Standish of Bagshot in 1846. It is still a rather uncommon plant, 

 although quite hardy in the London district. Of comparatively slow growth, 

 and of neat compact habit, it is suitable for positions where many evergreens 

 would soon become too large. Its distinct and handsome foliage also makes 

 it interesting, but it bears fruit only shyly. 



I. CREXATA, Thunberg. JAPANESE HOLLY. 



An evergreen shrub, usually 3 to 6 ft. high, of very dense, rigid, compact 

 habit ; young shoots angular, and covered with minute dark down. Leaves 

 crowded, oblong-lanceolate, \ to f in. long, \ to \ in. wide ; tapered at 

 the base to a short stalk, sharply pointed and with a few fine incurved teeth 

 at the margins ; glossy green, and of hard texture. Flowers dull white ; 

 fruit black. 



Native of Japan ; introduced to Europe about 1864. It is not easy to 

 ascertain what is the typical form of this holly, but the one above described 

 is what is commonly regarded as such very distinct in its close habit and 

 small leaves, and rarely more than 3 or 4 ft. high. But the two following 

 are very distinct hollies from Japan also attributed to this species. 



Var. MAJOR (syn. elliptica). A small tree, occasionally 20 ft. high, with 



