57 6 



THE HOLM OAK. 



The point of the leaf is often turned to one side, and the leaf 



bowed and twisted, but not puckered ; more rarely it is perfectly flat. 



The two halves of the leaf-blade from the central rib to the margins 



lie in one plane, instead of forming a wide spread \/ as is so often 

 the case with other trees. 



THE HOLM OAK (Quercus Ilex). 



The Evergreen Oak (also called the Ilex, Holm, and Hollv Oak) 

 is said to be a native of Southern Europe and North America, 

 and to have been introduced into England at the beginning or middle 

 ol the sixteenth century. The seedlings grow rapidly, though they 

 are easily injured ; after the first few years the annual growth is very 

 small. The tree lives to a great age, and under favourable conditions 

 will reach 50 or 60 feet in height, though more usually it is only 

 half that height : it will live bv the sea-coast. The timber is valuable, 

 being close of grain and flexible, and from its slow production very 

 durable. It withstands the effect of smoke well. In the opinion of 

 some writers this tree is a variety of the Oak mentioned in the Bible, 

 but it is more generally held that the Oak of Palestine, though 

 bearing a great resemblance to the Ilex, is a distinct species. 



PLAN OF LEAF. 



