THE HOLLY FAMILY. 



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mawkish odour. The plant is rare in this country, and is of 

 slow growth, one at Kew 40 years old has attained the height 

 of only 7 feet. 



Myrsine africana^ a native of Eastern and South Africa ; 

 M. retusa, of the Azores, where it is called Jamassa ; they 

 form handsome greenhouse shrubs, and live to a great age. 



The Holly Family. 



(Aquifoliace^ ) 



Trees or shrubs, with alternate generally permanent, often 

 spiny leaves. Flowers small, solitary or in clusters, gene- 

 rally axillary, sometimes dioecious, sessile or on short pedun- 

 cles. Corolla 4-lobed. Stamens 4 or 6. Fruit a fleshy 

 berry, containing several hard seeds. 



This family consists of above 100 species, all widely dis- 

 tributed, both in tropical and temperate countries, being 

 represented in Europe by the well known Holly tree. 



Holly (Ilex Aquifoliwn). The common green-leaved Holly 

 is a native of middle and southern Europe, as also of this 

 country. It 'sometimes attains the height of 30 or 40 feet, 

 and has white wood, which is hold in repute by cabinet- 

 makers and turners. It is often blackened so as to resemble 

 ebony, and is then used for making teapot and knife and fork 

 handles. Common birdlime is made from its bark. It is 

 much planted as an ornamental tree, as well as for forming 

 hedges, the numerous gold- and silver-leaved varieties being 

 obtained by cultivation. Although its berries afford abun- 

 dance of food for birds, they are nevertheless poisonous, 

 fatal cases having been recorded through children eating 

 them. The nse made of Holly and other evergreens for 

 ornamenting churches and dwelling houses at Christmas is 

 well known, but the origin is uncertain ; it is said to have 

 been practised by the Druids. It was a custom with the 

 Eomans to send sprigs of Holly with their gifts to their 

 friends during the Saturnalia as an emblem of good wishes. 

 This was adopted by the early Christians, and the first 



