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HOLLY (Ilex opaca Ait.) 



THE holly occurs sparingly scattered throughout 

 the State. It prefers a rich moist soil, but is 



also found on the higher and drier situations. It 



is much less abundant now than formerly, due to 



the large amount gathered and shipped to the cities 



for Christmas decorations. 

 It is a small evergreen tree, seldom exceeding 30 



feet in height and 12 inches in diameter. The 



bark is light gray and 

 roughened by wart-like 

 growths. The numerous 

 short, slender branches 

 form a dense, narrow 

 pyramidal head of strik- 

 ing dark-green color effect, 

 especially when well laden 

 with the conspicuous red 

 berries. 



The leaves are simple, 

 alternate, oval, thick and 

 leathery, 2 to 4 inches 

 long, and armed with 

 spiny teeth; they persist 

 on the branches for about 

 three years, then they drop 

 off in the spring. 

 The flowers are small, whitish and inconspicuous ; 



the male and female flowers are usually borne on 



separate trees. 



The fruit, which ripens late in the fall and per- 

 sists on the branches over the winter, is a dull 

 red or sometimes yellow, nearly round berry, about 

 one-quarter of an inch in diameter containing 4 

 to 6 ribbed nutlets. 



The wood is light, tough, not strong, and nearly 

 white. It is valued and much used for cabinet 

 work and wood-turning. For this purpose many 

 of the larger, finer trees have been cut and mar- 

 keted. 



HOLLY 



Two-thirds natural size. 



64 



