STAPHYLEACEAE " 223 



ILEX 



Shrubs or trees with evergreen, deciduous, alternate, simple, and 

 sometimes spiny leaves. Flowers dioecious; calyx lobes, petals and 

 stamens usually 4 (5) ; ovary superior, 2-13 celled; style short or absent. 

 Fruit a berry-like, globose or ovoid drupe,, with 2-16, bony, 1 seeded 

 stones. 



About 275 species, mostly in N. & S. America and temperate and 

 tropical Asia, 20 or 25 species are found in China, mostly shrubs. * In 

 North America and England, several species with deep green, shiny 

 leaves and sc irlet berries are used for Christmas decorations. The wood 

 is light, close-grained, soft but tough, and is greatly esteemed for engrav- 

 ing and furniture making. The Hollies are slow growing and are 

 important from the ornamental standpoint only. 



Ilex pernyi Franchet. 



Shrub or small tree. Branchlets pubescent. Leaves evergreen, 

 rhombic-ovate or quadrangular-ovate, dark shiny green, with 1-3 pairs 

 of rigid spines, 2-2.5 cm. long, short petioled. Flowers numerous, 

 sessile. Fruit light red, globose, ovoid, 8 mm. across. 



Central China. A handsome evergreen. 



STAPHYLEACEAE 



Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite or rarely alternate, odd pinnate, 

 with stipules. Flowers perfect, regular, racemed or panicled; sepals, 

 petals, and stamens 5; disk cup shaped ; ovary usually 3 celled ; styles 3, 

 free or connate. Fruit a more or less lobed capsule, or a berry, or 

 drupe-like. 



About 6 genera and 22 species in the north temperate regions. The 

 family is of no economic importance. 



KEY TO GENERA 



I. Leaves opposite, seeds several in each cell; fruits an inflated 



bladdery capsule Staphyleg,. 



II. Leaves alternate; seeds 1 in each cell; fruit berry-like. .Tapiscia. 



