98 THE HOLLY FAMILY. [Ilex. 



sphere, as well as in the tropics, but reduced to very few in the more 

 temperate regions. 



1. I. Aquifolium, Linn. (fig. 223). Common H. — An erect, much 

 branched evergreen shrub or bushy tree ; the leaves shortly stalked, 

 ovate, thick and shining, some quite entire, others much waved, and 

 bordered with strong, very prickly coarse teeth. Flowers white, in 

 dense clusters in the axils of the leaves, often unisexual. Berries bright 

 red or yellow. 



Common in hedges and woods in western and southern Europe, 

 extending to the Caucasus, but will not bear the winters of north- 

 eastern Europe or northern Asia. Found all over Britain. Fl. summer. 



XXIII. CELASTRACEiE. THE CELASTRUS FAMILY. 



A rather numerous family, in warm climates of both the New 

 and the Old World, and in the southern hemisphere, but confined 

 in Britain to the single genus Evonymus. The exotic genera 

 associated with it differ chiefly in the shape of the parts or the 

 flowers, or in the various forms the fruit assumes as it ripens. 



I. EVONYMUS. SPINDLE-TREE. 



Shrub, with opposite, undivided leaves, and small green or purplish 

 regular flowers, in loose, axillary cymes. Calyx small and flat, with 4 

 or 5 broad, short lobes, overlapping each other in the bud. Petals as 

 many, also overlapping each other. Stamens as many, alternating with 

 the petals, and united with them on a slightly thickened disk, which 

 covers the base of the calyx. Ovary immersed in the disk, with a very 

 short, protruding style. Capsule with 4 (rarely 3 or 5) angles or lobes, 

 enclosing as many cells, and opening, when ripe, in as many valves 

 along the middle of each cell. Seeds solitary in each cell, enclosed in 

 a coloured, fleshy arillus. Embryo in a fleshy albumen. 



A genus widely diffused over Europe, Asia, and North America, and 

 easily recognised by its fruit. 



The E. latifolius, from the continent of Europe, the E. atropurpureus, 

 from North America, and some other exotic, especially Japanese, species, 

 are occasionally planted in our shrubberies. 



1. E. europaeuSj Linn. (fig. 224). Common S. — A glabrous shrub, 

 about 3 to 5 feet high. Leaves shortly stalked, ovate-oblong or lanceo- 

 late, pointed, and minutely toothed. Peduncles shorter than the leaves, 

 with seldom more than 3 or 5 flowers, of a yellowish -green colour. Petals 

 4, obovate, about 2 lines long, the stamens half that length. Pod red 

 when ripe, opening at the angles so as to show the seeds enclosed in a 

 brilliant orange-coloured aril. 



In hedges and thickets, in temperate and southern Europe, and western 

 Asia, extending into southern Scandinavia. Frequent in many parts of 

 England, local in Ireland, rare in Scotland. Fl. spring or early summer 



XXIV. RHAMNACE-ffi. THE BUCKTHORN FAMILY. 



An extensive family widely dispersed over the globe, but 

 confined in Britain to the single genus Rhamnus. The exotic 



