January 2^th, i8gg?[ PROCEEDINGS. xiii 



foliage, may only be another subtropical form of this protean 

 species. 



Amongst the many exotic forms the /. vomitoria Soland. 

 {Cassine L.), which I have gathered commonly on the sea-coast 

 of S. Carolina, a remarkably neat, dwarf shrub with shining 

 small crenate leaves, and crowded red berries, is mentioned by 

 Porcher * to be used in place of opium by the Indians, who 

 make a cold infusion of the leaves which is called the "black 

 drink." It was also used by the Creek Indians as a powerful 

 diuretic. It is used as an emetic in the same way as the 

 /. paraguensis A. St. Hil., the Mate, or Paraguay Tea. It is 

 locally called " Yaupon." The Inkberry (/. glabra Gray = Prinos 

 glaber L.), another common species in the Southern States, is 

 also occasionally employed as a febrifuge and for making 

 decoctions of opiate tea. 



/ (Frinos) verticillata Gray is a serrate-leaved form, growing 

 in swamps with the last-named, than which it seems an almost 

 more valuable plant, the bark and berries both being used, by 

 the Indians especially, for gastric diseases and as a corroborant 

 in dropsy. 



Indeed, it is probable that almost all the species of the true 

 Hollies have similar qualities ; the bitter principle is termed 

 " ilicin," and is considered by some to be almost as efficacious 

 as quinine (Cinchona). Lastly, birdlime can be procured from 

 the inner bark of the Holly, as well as from the berries of the 

 Mistletoe. 



Of the two other genera consigned to this Order, Byronia 

 Endl. is much like Ilex, and, indeed. Sir J. D. Hooker {FL Brit. 

 Ind., Vol. I. p. 598) states that the genus must be now suppressed, 

 as various important modifications of the ordinal character have 

 been made. 



Nemopanthes Rafin. includes a North American species, 

 with deciduous, smooth, mostly entire leaves, flowers on long 

 axillary peduncles, nearly or quite soUtaiy. This I have 

 gathered near Trenton Falls, N.Y. 



* Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests, by F. Peyre Porcher, 

 M.D., Charleston, 1871, p. 431. 



