496 ObdBr 14.— AQUIFOLIACE^. 



31. PTEROS'PORA, Nutt. Albany Beech-drops. — (Gr. m-epdv, a 



wing, cnopd. a seed ; alluding to the winged seeds.) Calyx 5-parted ; 



corolla Tirceolate, rouudish-ovoid, the limb 5-toothed and reflexed ; 



stamens 10, anthers peltate, 2-celled, 2-awned, opening lengthwise; 



capsule 5-celled, 5-valved ; seeds very numerous, minute, winged at the 



apex. — 2J! Plant leafless, brownish-red. Fls. racemed, white, resembling 



those of Andromeda. 



P. androm^dea Nutt In various parts of N. Y. anci Tt., rare. First discovered 

 by Dr. J). S. C. H. Smith, near Niagara Falls, 1816. Scape 12 to 30' high, dark 

 purple, clothed with short, viscid wool Rac. 6 to 13' long, with 50 or more 

 nodding fls. Pedicels irregularly scattered, 6 to 8" long, axillary to long, linear 

 bracts. Cor. shorter than the pedicels, somewhat campanulate, open at the throat. 

 Jl. (Monotropa procora Ea.) 



Order LXXIV. AQUIFOLIACE.^. Hollywoets. 



Shrulis or trees, with evergreen, alternate or opposite, simple, coriaceous, exstipo- 

 iate leaves. Flowers small, axillary, sometimes dioecious. Sepals 4 to 6, imbricate 

 in bud, very minute. Cor. regular, 4 — 6-clefl or parted, hypogynous, imbricate in 

 Eestivation. Sta. inserted into the very short tube of the corolla and alternate with 

 its segments. Anth. adnate. Ova. free from the calyx, 2 — 6-oeIled, with a solitarj*, 

 suspended ovule in each cell. Fr. drapaceous, with 2 — 6 stones or nucules. Albu- 

 men large, fleshy. 



Genera 11, species 110, natives of America and S. Africa, only ono, Ilex tho Holly. Ile-i nqL.- 

 folium, which gives name to the Order, being found in Euroiie. 



Properiiee. — Tho buric and leaves of Prinos verticiUatua (black alder) are ftmlnently astringent 

 and tonic, as well as those of the Holly. The berries are emetic and imrgative. The leaves of 

 Frinos glaber, and Ilex Paraguensis are used for tea, tho latter well known as the Mate or Para- 

 guay Tea, 



The idea of uniting the two genera Ilex and Prinos was advanced by Dr. "Wm. Baldwin, in 

 1S16 (" Keliquiae," p. S41) in consequence of discovering some of the deciduous species of Ilex 

 which he at first mistook for Prinos. The suggestion has since been repeated by several authort, 

 and at lengtlt Prof. Gray (Manual, p. 2C3) includes bothunderono name (Ilex). The two groups, 

 however, seem tousquito as distinct i)& Gayluesacia and VaocimuTTi; and moreover, Nerao- 

 panthes is intermediate. 



GENERA. 



§ ILabitually tetramerous. Prupo with 4, bony, sulcato nutlets iLlct. I 



§ Habitually tetramorous. Drupe with 4, horny, smooth nutlets !NE.yoPANTnES. ii 



J Habitually hexamerous. Berry with 6 (T, 8) smooth, cartilaginous seeds PitLNoe, 3 



1. ILEX, L. Holly. (The ancient name of the Holm Oat, tho 

 derivation uncertain.) Fls. 4 (rarely S)-parted, mostly perfect but many 

 abortive; calyx 4-toothed, persistent; corolla of 4 obtuse petals distinct 

 or scarcely united at base ; stamens 4 ; stigmas 4, or united into one ; 

 drupe red, with 4 bony nutlets, ribbed and furrowed on the convo. 

 back. — Lvs. alternate. Fls. small, white, lateral, single or clustered. 



§ Trees evergreen — the leaves armed with spinous teeth ITo. I 



I Shrubs evergreen — the leaves unarmed, serrate or entire Nos. 2 — t 



f Shrubs deciduous, the leaves thin, serrate or entire Kos. — T 



1 I. opaoa L. American Holly. Arborescent; lvs. oval, acute, with strong, 

 spinous teeth, coriaceous smooth, and shining, fascicles lax, peduncles compound ; 

 cal. teeth acute ; drupe ovate, nutlets 5-ribbed on the back. — A tree of middle 

 size, quite generally diffused throughout tho TJ. S., from Mass, to Ga. and La. 

 It is chiefly interesting for its foliage, which is of an exceedingly rich, shining, 

 perennial green. Fls.. in scattered clusters at the base of tho new branchlets, 

 and the fertile ones are succeeded by red berries, which remain until late in 

 Autumn. Jn. 



/3. Lvs. mostly entire, a few of thom with a single spinous tooth towards the 

 apex. — ^Macon, Ga., &c. Lvs. exacUj oval, very diilerent from I. Dalioon. 



