626 



The Hollies 



margin, dark green and smooth above, pale and usually smooth beneath, the leaf- 

 stalk about 2 mm. long. The flowers are soHtary, or in few-flowered clusters, and 

 open from April to June. The calyx-lobes are triangular and sharp-pointed; co- 

 rolla white, 4 to 5 mm. across, its 4 lobes obovate or oval and blunt; stamens 4, 

 shorter than the corolla. The fruit is globose, red, about 6 mm, in diameter, on 

 stalks about 5 mm. long; the nutlets are prominently ribbed on both surfaces. 



The wood is soft, close-grained and ver}' hght brown; its specific gravity is 

 about 0.59. The plant has been regarded as a variety of Ilex Cassine, but 

 seems to be distinct. 



8. DAHOON Hex Cassine Linnaeus 



Ilex Dahoon Walter 



A small evergreen tree or shrub, also called Yaupon and Dahoon holly; it 

 grows in swamps and on stream banks in the coastal regions from Virginia to 

 Florida and Louisiana, attaining a maximum height of 9 meters, with a trunk 



diameter of 4.5 dm., and slender spread- 

 ing and ascending branches. It occurs 

 also in the northern Bahama islands and 

 in Cuba. 



The bark is about 2 mm. thick, close, 

 and dark gray. The twigs are compara- 

 tively stout, densely silky-hairy for several 

 years, becoming smooth and dark brown. 

 The leaves are persistent, leathery, ob- 

 lanceolate or oblong, rarely obovate, 4 to 

 10 cm. long, sharp, blunt or notched at 

 the apex, gradually tapering to the base, 

 somewhat revolute on the entire or spar- 

 ingly toothed margin, dark green, shining 

 and smooth above, pale and sometimes 

 hairy beneath; the leaf-stalk is 5 to 10 

 mm. long, grooved and usually hairy. 

 The flowers are in simple or panicled, 

 umbel-hke clusters, the peduncle 3 to 20 

 mm. long and hair)', the pedicels short. The calyx is 1.5 to 2 mm. across, its lobes 

 triangular ovate, toothed and fringed, usually sharp-pointed; corolla white, 4 to 

 4.5 mm. across, its lobes obovate and blunt; stamens usually shorter than the 

 corolla-lobes. The fruit remains on the twigs all winter; it is globose, bright red 

 or yellowish, 6 to 8 mm. in diameter, on short hairy stalks; nutlets ribbed. 



The wood is soft, close-grained, weak and hght brown; its specific gravity is 

 about 0.48. 



Fig. 577. Dahoon. 



