TETRANDRIA— TETRAGYNIA. Ilex. £27 



cave, segments ; or of" 4 petals, cohering by their broad 

 bases ; much larger than the calyx. Filam. awl-shaped, 

 shorter than the corolla, and alternate with its divisions. 

 Aiith. small, two-lobed. Germ, roundish. Styles none. 

 Stigmas 4, obtuse, permanent. Berry globular, of 4 cells. 

 Seeds solitary in each cell, oblong, pointed, angular at the 

 inside, rounded externally. 



Sometimes the Jlowers are 5-cleft ; and the ger?nen is often 

 wanting in some that are 4-cleft. 



Shrubs or trees, with generally alternate, sometimes ever- 

 green and prickly-edged, leaves. Flowas axillary or ter- 

 minal, on compound stalks. Berries not eatable. 



1. I. Aqidfolium. Common Holly. 



Leaves ovate, acute, spinous and wavy. Flowers axillary, 

 somewhat cymose. 



I.Aquifolium. Unn.Sp.Pl.\%\. mild. v. 1.707- Fl.Br. 192. Engl. 



Bot. V. 7. t. 496. Hook. Scot. 57. Fl. Dan. t. 508. Ehrh. Arb. 21 . 

 Agrifolium. Ger.Ew. 1338./. RaiiSyn.A&d. 

 Aquifolium. Matth. Valgr. v. \. \AQ.f. Camer. Epit. 84. f. Mill. 



Jc. 31. t.46. 

 A. n. 667. Hall. Hist. v. 1 . 297. 



/3. Agrifolium baccis luteis nondum descriptum. How Phyt. 3. 

 Rail Sijn. 466. 



In hedges and bushy places, upon dry hills. 



Tree. May. 



A handsome evergreen tree, of slow growth, with a smooth grey 

 bark, which, abounding with mucilage, makes bird-lime, by ma- 

 ceration in water. The wood is hard, and close-grained. Leaves 

 alternate, stalked, rigid, shining, wavy, with spinous divaricated 

 lobes ; the ujjper ones on old trees, entire, with only a terminal 

 prickle. Fl. copious, white, tinged externally with purple ; the 

 earlier ones least perfect. Berries scarlet ; casually yellow. 

 Numerous variegated varieties are kept in gardens, and one 

 whose leaves are prickly on the disk. The tree bears clipping 

 well, but is not so fashionable for cut hedges as formerly. The 

 branches, laden with berries, are stuck about rustic kitchens and 

 churches at Christmas, and remain till Candlemas day. In 

 Norfolk the Misseltoe accompanies them, and sometimes the 

 Euonymus. The Druids are said to have introduced this custom 

 for the accommodation of certain sylvan spirits, of a chilly con- 

 stitution, while the oaks were leafless. Agreeable associations, 

 connected with returning seasons, keep up such practices long 

 after their original meaning is forgotten. 



q2 



