Ilex
(from Ilex, the Latin name given by Virgil to Quercus Ilex). Holly. Including Prinos. ORD. Ilicineoe. A genus comprising 145 species of mostly hardy shrubs or trees, inhabiting temperate and tropical regions, abundant in South America, rare in Africa and Australia. Flowers white, often sub-dioecious; peduncles axillary, few-flowered, or often ramose. Drupe globose. Leaves alternate, often shining, entire, dentate or spinose. The common Holly, with its innumerable varieties, is well known and extensively cultivated. It submits to training in almost any shape, and soon recovers if severly pruned to preserve the desired character in this respect. Pruning or cutting should be practised either in September or April, both in the case of trained trees and the clipping of hedges. The Holly may be best transplanted at the beginning of May, or early in autumn, when there is sufficient time for new roots to be formed before winter. It does not transplant well when old, but is a long-lived tree when established in good soil and left undisturbed at the root. One of the handsomest and most endurable hedges which can be grown is made from this plant. It is slow-growing, taking eight or ten years from seed to make a fence 4ft. high; consequently, it is less extensively employed than it would otherwise be. It is not unusual to allow a long stem to run up, and form a tree at intervals along a Holly hedge. The red berries, contrasting with the dark green foliage throughout the winter, have a very pleasing appearance, and the branches are in great request for Christmas decorations. Propagation is usually effected by seeds, which require treatment similar to those of the Hawthorn, being collected when ripe in the autumn, and buried in sand until the following spring or autumn, when they may be sown in drills or beds and covered with 1in. of soil. A few boughs, placed over the beds, will be very serviceable as a protection against frosts or the heat of the sun, which latter is injurious to the young Hollies. The plants may remain in the seed-beds for two years, and can then be transferred into nursery rows 1ft. apart. After being transplanted, they must stand for two years at least, when they will require to be again, removed, to give them more space. The plants will then be about 1 1/4ft. or 1 1/2ft. high. The varieties can only be propagated by grafting, during March; and by budding, in May, with a pushing bud, or in August with a dormant one. Stocks for both purposes may be of the common sort, raised from seed. There are a number of varieties of far more horticultural value than the species. The variegated forms are particularly attractive.
I. Aquifolium (prickly-leaved).* Common Holly. fl. sub-umbel-late; peduncles axillary, short, and many-flowered. May and June. Berries red, roundish. l. ovate or oblong-acute, shining, waved, spiny-toothed. h. 10ft. to 40ft. Europe (Britain) and West Asia. From the bark of this, as well as some other species, birdlime is obtained.
I. Cassine (Cassine). fl. in clusters, nearly sessile, smooth. May. l. alternate, evergreen, lance-ovate or elliptical, crenate. South United States, 1726. Shrub. The leaves are used for tea by the people along the coast, as they formerly were to make the celebrated "Black Drink" of the North Carolina Indians.
I. chinensis (Chinese). fl., corymbs pedunculate, dichotomous. July. l. ovate-oblong; edge with little, cartilaginous, scarcely pungent teeth. h. 10ft. China, 1814. (B. M. 2043.)
I. cornuta (horned).* Berries large. l. hard, dark green, almost always furnished with three strong spines at the end, which, in mature plants, assume the appearance of horns; when young, one or two more spines are added at each side, but these disappear in old plants. North China, 1850. A fine hardy Holly. (G. C. 1850, p. 311.)
I. crenata (crenated).* fl., peduncles drooping, scattered on the branches, usually three-flowered. Spring. l. ovate, crenate, blunt, with revolute edges. Japan. Of this compact-growing, small-leaved species, there are several forms: Fortunei has rounder leaves, and is a stronger grower than the type; variegata has leaves blotched with dull yellow.
I. Dahoon (Dahoon). fl., peduncles lateral and terminal, in panicled corymbs. May and June. Berries red. l. lanceolate-elliptical, coriaceous, almost quite entire, with the edges a little revolute, and with the midrib, petioles, and branchlets villous. h. 8ft. North America, 1726. (W. D. B. ii. 114.) I. D. myrtifolia (Myrtle-leaved). fl., peduncles slender, three to nine-flowered, or the more fertile shorter and one-flowered, smooth. May. l. linear-lanceolate or linear-oblong, sparingly and sharply serrate or entire. h. 6ft. South United States, 1806. Shrub.
I. decidua (deciduous). fl., peduncles of the sterile flowers longer than the petioles, of the fertile ones short; calyx teeth smooth, acute. May. l. wedge-oblong or lance-obovate, obtusely serrate, downy on the midrib beneath, shining above. United States. Shrub. (W. D. B. ii. 115.)
I. dipyrena (two-seeded).* fl. small, sessile, disposed in axillary fascicles. April and May. Berries dark brown, two-seeded. l. elliptical-oblong, mucronate, on short stalks, even, hardly wavy, remotely spiny-serrated. Branchlets angular. h. 12ft. North India, 1840. (B. F. F. 15.)
I. glabra (smooth). Inkberry. fl., peduncles of the sterile flowers three to six-flowered, of the fertile ones one-flowered; calyx teeth rather blunt. June. l. wedge-lanceolate or oblong, sparingly toothed towards the apex, smooth. h. 2ft. to 3ft. North America, 1759. Shrub. SYN. Prinos glaber. (L. B. C. 450.)
I. Gongonha (Gongonha). fl. pentandrous, with entire stigma. l. elliptic, mucronate, spiny-toothed, rounded at base. h. 30ft. Brazil. This species is employed as tea in its native country.
I. laevigata (smooth). fl. six-cleft. June. l. lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, pointed at both ends, appressed-serrulate, shining above, mostly glabrous beneath. h. 4ft. North America Shrub. SYN. Prinos loevigatus. (W. D. B. i. 28.)
I. latifolia (broad-leaved).* fl., pedicels aggregate, longer than the petiole, and rising above the axils of the leaves. l. ovate, bluntish, serrated, shining above, with revolute edges. h. 20ft. Japan, 1840. (B. M. 5597.) I. mollis (soft). fl., sterile ones very numerous, in umbel-like clusters, the pedicels shorter than the petiole, and (with the calyx) soft-downy; the fertile peduncles very short. l. soft, downy beneath, oval, ovate, or oblong, taper-pointed at both ends, especially at the apex, thin-membranaceous, sharply serrulate. North America. Shrub. SYN. Prinos dubius.
I. monticola (mountain). fl., fertile ones very short-peduncled; calyx ciliate. May. l. ovate or lance-oblong, ample, taper-pointed, thin-membranaceous, smooth, sharply serrate. North America. Shrub.
I. opaca (shady).* American Holly. fl. in loose clusters along the base of the young branches and in the axils; calyx teeth acute. May and June. l. oval, flat; the wavy margins furnished with scattered spiny teeth. h. 20ft. to 40ft. United States, 1744. (W. D. B. i. 3.)
I. paraguariensis (Paraguay). Brazilian Tea; Caa-Cuys; Caa-Mini; Caa-Quazu; Paraguay Tea. fl., peduncles axillary; many-parted. l. obovate, oblong, bluntish, remotely serrated. h. 15ft. Paraguay, 1823. A greenhouse evergreen tree. The dried leaves of this species furnish the Yerba de Mate, or Paraguay Tea, of which enormous quantities are consumed in South America. (B. M. 3992.)
I. platyphylla (broad-leaved). fl., corolla lobes concave, obovate; stamens shorter than the lobes; pedicels with two small bracts below the middle, thickened upwards; cyme many-flowered, longer than the thickened petioles. May. l. extremely variable in size and shape, generally broadly ovate, approaching orbicular, thick, coriaceous, quite entire. h. 20ft. Canary Islands, 1844. A hardy evergreen, pyramidal tree. (B. M. 4079.)
I. verticillata (whorled). Black Alder; Winterberry. fl. all very shortly peduncled. May and June. l. obovate, oval, or wedge-lanceolate, pointed, acute at the base, serrate, downy on the veins beneath. h. 6ft. North America, 1736. Shrub. SYN. Prinos verticillatus. (W. D. B. i. 30.) VARIETIES. The varieties of I. Aquifolium are extremely varied in character, marking, and form. Those enumerated below are the most serviceable and generally grown. For most of the descriptions, we are indebted to Mr. T. Moore's synopsis, which appeared in the "Gardeners' Chronicle." The list is here divided into two sections.
I. Green-leaved Varieties.
I. A. balearica (Balearic).* fl., umbles axillary, few-flowered, short. May to July. l. ovate, acute, shining, flat, entire or spiny-toothed. h. 10ft. Minorca, 1815.
I. A. Bessoni (Besson's). l. obovate-lanceolate, quite spineless, less rigid in texture and lighter green in colour than most other varieties.
I. A. costata (ribbed). Grecian Holly. l. oblong-acute, 2 1/2in. long, 1 1/4 broad, furnished with slightly divaricate somewhat distant spines. Distinct and free-growing.
I. A. crassifolia (thick-leaved). l. dull green, very thick, with recurved tips and margins, furnished with prominent saw-like teeth. A slow-growing, dwarf, bushy variety, with purple bark.
I. A. Doningtonensis (Donington's). l. lanceolate, sometimes turned to one side, so as to become sickle-shaped, about 2in. long and 3/4in. broad; margin having a few, or sometimes no spines. A distinct variety, of free pyramidal growth. (G. C. n. s., ii. 687.)
I. A. ferox (flerce). Hedgehog Holly. l. ovate-oblong or narrowly-ovate, 2in. or more long, much acuminate, with strongly-developed divaricate marginal spines. The convex spiny surface of the dark green leaves is its chief characteristic. Bark purple.
I. A. Foxii (Fox's). l. ovate, stoutish, 2in. to 2 1/2in. long, with rather distant, regular, plane, freely-developed spines. A small-growing form. (G. C. n. s., ii. 751.)
I. A. hastata (halbert-shaped).* l. from 3/4in. to 1 1/4in. long, about 1/2in. broad; spines large, very prominent, consisting usually of one or two pairs on each side at the base, but occasionally more, the upper half of the leaf forming a large, entire, oblong, bluntish lobe. A remarkable form, sometimes known as latispina minor, l. nana, and l. pygmaea. (G. C. n. s., ii. 687.)
I. A. Hendersoni (Henderson's). l. about 2 3/4in. long by 1 5/8in. broad, oblong-elliptic, opaque, dark green with sunken veins, margin generally entire. Bark purplish.
I. A. heterophylla (variable-leaved). l. ovate or elliptic-ovate, about 2 1/2in. long, 1in. to 1 1/8in. wide, twisted near the point, entire or distinctly spinose. A strong-growing form. (G. C. n. s., ii. 519.)
I. A. Hodginsii (Hodgins'). l. very broadly ovate, 3in. to 4in. long, 2 1/2in. broad, with distant and rather unequally-disposed but strong spines. A handsome form.
I. A. maderensis (Madeira). l. ovate or ovate-oblong, with a short acuminate point, 3in. long, about 1 3/4in. wide; margin with tolerably regular spines lying in the plane of the leaf. Less hardy than many others.
I. A. monstrosa (monstrous). l. oblong, much acuminated, with numerous strongly-developed marginal spines, which are mostly directed upwards. (G. C. n. s., ii. 751.)
I. A. myrtifolia (Myrtle-leaved).* l. ovate-lanceolate, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long, 1/2in. to 5/8in. broad, usually moderately spiny at the margin, but sometimes quite entire. Known also as angustifolia. (G. C. n. s., ii. 687.) I. A. nobilis (noble). l. roundish-ovate, 2 3/4in. to 3 3/4in. long, with somewhat distant, bold, marginal spines. A vigorous-growing form. (G. C. n. s., ii. 432.)
I. A. ovata (ovate-leaved). l. ovate, 2 1/2in. long, with regular angular, scarcely spiny teeth. A slow-growing but distinct form. (G. C. n. s., ii. 751.)
I. A. platyphylla (broad-leaved).* l. broadly-ovate, 3 1/2in. long, 2 1/4in. broad; spines variable in disposition, sometimes evenly disposed around the edge.
I. A. pyramidalis (pyramidal). l. ovate, acuminate, dark green, with six or eight spines on the same plane as the leaf. A distinct variety, of more erect, pyramidal habit than most others.
I. A. recurva (recurved). l. ovate-acuminate, about 1 1/4in. long, 1/2in. broad; margin spiny throughout, usually terminating in an elongated spine. A dwarfish form, sometimes known as tortuosa. (G. C. n. s., ii. 687.)
I. A. serratifolia (saw-edge-leaved). l. lanceolate, about 1 1/2in. long and 1/2in. broad, stiff; midrib convexly curved; spines numerous, regular, stoutish. Resembling myrtifolia. (G. C. n. s., ii. 687.)
I. A. tortuosa (twisted). l. nearly 2in. long, about 1in. broad, the blade being once spirally twisted, the edge being, in addition, more or less revolute or marginate, rarely spiny. A vigorous grower, of dense habit. Commonly known as the Screw Holly.
I. A. Whittingtonensis (Whittington's).* l. lanceolate, or elliptic-ovate, about 2 1/2in. long, 5/8in. wide, sometimes slightly recurved; spines numerous, stiff. An elegant and distinct form. (G. C. n. s., ii. 687.)
II. Silver and Gold-leaved Varieties.
I. A. albo-picta (white-blotched). A synonym of I. A. argentea medio-picta.
I. A. argentea elegantissima (very elegant silver-striped). l. elliptic or elliptic-ovate, about 2 1/4in. long, with unequal spines, which are generally few and distant; central part dark green, with grey blotches; margin creamy-white. Known also as elegantissima.
I. A. argentea marginata (silver-margined).* l. broadly-ovate, 2in. to 2 1/2in. long, usually spiny, dark green, with the disk slightly mottled, and with an irregular narrowish silvery margin. There are several garden names for this old variety, including albo marginata, argentea lato marginata, and variegata argentea.
I. A. argentea medio-picta (white blotched). l. ovate or cuneately-ovate, 1 1/2in. to 2in. long, about 1in. broad, with strong and much divaricated spines. Colour dark green at edge, with large central blotch of creamy-white. Bark green. SYNS. I. A. albo-picta, I. Silver Milkmaid.
I. A. argentea stricta (upright silvery). l. oblong-elliptic, 2in. to 2 1/2in. long, 1 1/2in. broad; spines somewhat wavy; disk conspicuously mottled with flakes of green and greyish-green; edge broadly and unequally margined with creamy-white.
I. A. aurea angustifolia (narrow-leaved golden).* l. elliptic-oblong, acuminate, 1 1/2in. to 2 1/4in. long, nearly 1in. broad, with a spiny and rather wavy edge; centre pale green; margin deep golden. (G. C. n. s., v. 44.)
I. A. aurea latifolia (broad-leaved golden).* l. ovate, 2in. to 2 1/2in. long, strongly divaricate, and with well-developed spines; disk splashed with pale green, and there is a narrow but irregular deep golden edge.
I. A. aurea maculata (gold-spotted). l. oblong-ovate, about 2 1/2in. long, with distant triangular spines; disk with a large blotch of creamy-yellow, surrounded by a green border. A distinct variety, sometimes known as maculata aurea.
I. A. aurea marginata bromeliaefolia (gold-margined Bromelia-leaved). l. ovate, with flattish distant marginal spines, and a flat acutely-lengthened point; disk mottled with pale green on a dark green ground; margin with an unequal but well-defined band of yellow. Known also as bromeliaefolia aureo-marginata.
I. A. aurea marginata fructu-luteo (gold-margined, yellow-berried). Berries yellow. l. ovate, 2 1/2in. long, coarsely and rather distantly spined; disk green, blotched with grey; edge greenish-yellow.
I. A. aurea picta latifolia (gold-painted, broad-leaved).* Golden Milkmaid. l. ovate or broadly-ovate, 2in. or more in length, and sometimes 1 1/2in. broad; spines variable in number and position; disk irregularly marked by a large branching deep yellow blotch, with an irregular, often narrow, deep glossy green margin. A very handsome and distinct form. (G. C. n. s., v. 365.)
I. A. aurea regina.* Golden Queen. l. broadly-ovate, 2 1/2in. to 3in. long, 1 1/2in. to 2in. broad, with very strong spreading and variously-directed spines; disk usually much mottled with grey and green, with a broad, well-defined, continuous margin of deep golden-yellow. A very handsome form, and said to be the finest of the gold-edged series. It is also known as aurea marginata, latifolia marginata, and reginae. (G. C. n. s., v. 44.)
I. A. Cookii (Cook's). l. ovate, flat, with rather weak spines; very dark green, with a narrow edge of greenish-yellow, and some central blotches. (G. C. n. s., v. 437.)
I. A. ferox argentea (fierce, silvery).* Silver-striped Hedgehog. l. ovate, more or less convex, deep green, bristling with stiff echinate spines towards the front and edges; margin and surface spines creamy-white. Known also as ferox argentea variegata. (G. C. n. s., v. 44.) I. A. Handsworthensis (Handsworth).* l. elliptic-oblong, 2 1/2in. to 3in. long, margined with very strong prominent white spines; disk mottled with green and greyish-green, and with a distinct and tolerably even margin of creamy-white. A handsome, free-growing form.
I. A. heterophylla aureo-picta (various-leaved, gold-painted). l. ovate, flat, toothless, 2 1/2in. long; edge dark green; middle conspicuously marked with a broad, unequally-developed, feathery blotch of bright yellow. (G. C. n. s., vi. 389.)
I. A. Hodginsii aurea (Hodgins' golden).* l. broadly oblong-ovate; disk conspicuously mottled with dark and grey-green; margin broad, golden.
I. A. Lawsoniana (Lawson's).* l. ovate or bluntly elliptical, 2 1/2in. to 3 1/4in. long, opaque green; central or discal portions marked with broad bands or blotches of yellow; spines distant. Very handsome. The same as Lawsoniana variegata. (G. C. n. s., v. 624.)
I. A. Madame Briot. l. large, 2 1/2in. to 3in. long, 1 1/4in. to 1 1/2in. broad, oblong-ovate, furnished at the edge with strongly-developed wavy or divaricate spines; surface considerably mottled with yellow and green on the disk, and having a narrow golden edge. Of Continental origin.
I. A. maderensis variegata (variegated Madeiran). l. ovate or obovate, 2in. to 2 1/4in. long, distantly plane-spined, or occasionally somewhat wavy; dark green at the margin, with a feathered golden blotch, mixed with pale green in the centre.
I. A. scotica aurea (Scotch golden). l. obovate, marginate, about 1 1/2in. long, nearly entire, but loosely wavy, narrowing to wedge-shaped at the base; disk dark mottled green, with a broad golden edge.
I. A. Wateriana (Waterer's).* l. oblong, ovate, or obovate, often oblique, 1 3/4in. to 2 1/2in. long, with or without spines; disk dark green, mottled, often in sectional streaks, with yellowish-green and greyish-green, and with a broad but irregular marginal band of deep golden-yellow, which is not continuous, sometimes wholly golden, at others half golden. A beautiful dense dwarf shrub. It is known also as compacta aurea and nana aurea. (G. C. n. s., vi. 233.)