The Holly and? (Holly)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Holly
Date:	17/11/02 (164 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: traditional, cherfull

Disadvantages: spiky

Holly / aquifoleceae
Christmas is nearly here so it?s nearly time to deck the halls, sitting rooms, and parlours with holly I thought I would write a little op about it.
Holly is a family of more than 300 species. They have red, black, white, cream, or orange berries.
Some hollies have been usedmedicinally.
North American holly Ilex opaca has in the past been given for bronchitis, fever, worms, gout and rheumatism
Ilex aquifolium has been used for malaria; rheumatism and influenza believe the leaves were used

The one we are familiar with is the common/English holly Ilex aquifolium
Holly is associated in Christmas traditions throughout northern Europe. I suspect it symbolises the crown of thorns and the red berries blood.
Holly symbolises the continuation of life through winter dormancy

The holly was not called holly till the 17c known as Holme or Holly tree.
Holly is a small evergreen tree /shrub with green shiny spiky leaves in summer it produces small insignificant white scented flowers on the old wood male and feale flowers on desperate plants if you have a female plant there must be a male within about ½ mile. The female plant produces red poisonous berries I guess the other colours are poisonous too. Thrushes/ redwings do eat the berries though. There are some pretty hybrids with leaves variegated with a paler green We have a very pretty one at school full of red berries now
The seeds/ berries of holly easily set I often pull small holly trees out of my garden.
Thanks for reading
Off to see the baby now taking a casserole and cakes to my daughter to save her energy and I think I have one or 2 more baby toys if you do not know what I am talking about read my last op

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