KOLLY TRIBE 



107 



i. /. Aquifblium (Common Holly). — The only British species, 

 a shrub or small tree, with smooth ash-grey bark and slightly 

 downy twigs ; leaves evergreen, glossy, with cartilaginous waved 

 spinous margins, those on upper branches often having only the 

 one spine at the apex ; flowers white, sub-dicecious ; fruit scarlet, 

 rarely yellow. The wood, which is white, and remarkably close- 

 grained, is much used by cabinet-makers for inlaying and 

 ebonising ; and the bark furnishes bird-lime. The berries, it should 



fLEX aquif6lium {Common Holly). 



be borne in mind, are Poisonous. The name Aquifblium means 

 needle-leaved, and Holly may be a corruption of the word "holy," 

 from the use to which its boughs are applied in ornamenting 

 churches at Christmas. The Holly is particularly abundant on 

 sandy soil, under the trees of our old forests. — Fl. May — August. 



Series II. CALYCIFLOR^. Ord. XXII.— XXXVI 



Petals and stamens perigynous or epigynous ; oi'ary superior or 

 inferior. 



§ Stamens perigynous ; ovary generally superior 



