OO DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SHRUBS 



decorations at Christmas time. Tlie best of the evergreens without spiny- 

 edged leaves are those from Japan. The one with the largest and brightest 

 leaves (6 inches long and 3 to 4 inches wide) is Japan Lakge-leavbd 

 IIoLLY (66) — Ilex latif61ia ; while the one with foliage next in size (3 to 4 

 inches long) is Entire-leaved Holly — Ilex Integra. The small-leaved 

 one (about 1 inch long) is Small-leaved Holly — Ilex cren^ta. 



The best of the deciduous-leaved Hollies is Red Winterberry (67) — 

 Ilex vertioillita, — which grows about 6 feet high and has small brilliant 

 red berries remaining on the bare bushes in close clusters through most of 

 the winter. Mountain Holly (68) — Nemopd,nthus mucronata (N. fas- 

 ciculkris) — has bright ridged red berries on stems about an inch long ; 

 it grows 6 to 8 feet high with ash-colored bark. All of the hollies have 

 alternate simple leaves. [Seeds, taking 2 years.] 



KEY TO THE HOLLIES 



* Foliage evergreen. (A.) 

 A. Leaves with spiny-edged teeth ; trees rather than shrubs. (B.) 

 B. Flowers and fruit on axillary clusters on old growth. European 

 Holly (64) — Ilex Aquifdlium. 



B. Flowers and fruit in small axillary clusters on new growth. 

 American Holly (65) — Ilex optica. 



A. Leaves witli few spines at tips and base ; shrub with short 



spreading branches. Chinese IIollv — Ilex corniita. 

 A. Leaves without spiny edges, entire or slightly notched. (C.) 



C. Fruit red; hardy only south of Washington ; shrubs or trees to 

 40 feet or more. (D.) 



D. Leaves large, 3-7 inches long, glossy green ; fruit large in 



sessile clusters. Japan Large-leaved Holly (66) — Ilex 



latifblia. 

 D. Leaves obovate, entire-edged, 3-4 inches long ; fruit large, 



long-stemmed. Japan Entire-leaved Holly — Ilex Integra. 

 D. Leaves obovate, nearly entire, 2-3 inches long ; fruit small, 



dull red to yellow. Dahoon (60) — Ilex Cassine. 



D. Leaves oval, small, ^-2 inches long ; fruit on old growth 

 globose, small. Cassena (70) or Yaupon— Ilex vomitbria. 



C. Fruit black, nearly solitary on new growth. (E.) 



E. Leaves small, crenate, smooth, J-IJ inches long ; hardy only 

 South. Japan Sjiall-leaved Holly — Ilex cren^ta. 



E. Leaves larger, 1-2 inches long, notched towards tips; 

 hardy upright shrub to 8 feet. Evergreen Winterberrt. 

 Inkuerry (71) — Ilex gl&,bra, 



