h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ok folks. This is wrecking my head.

There is a cultivar of holly with very odd, contorted leaves. They look all sort of twisted with spiny spikes coming out everywhere. The name is completely escaping me now, and it's driving me mad. Does anyone know it?

Got it! 'Ferox' is the variety. Pic below if anyone's interested.

http://www.parks.ox.ac.uk/genetic/ilexferox.jpg

Got one growing in my border KB; although mine has slightly more yellowy leaves and is a male.

Is this similar KB?

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/scorpio_wtch/album?.dir=/79afre2

Yes, that's the variegated one of the same species. I think they look great! They'd make a good intruder-proof hedge too.

I see your label says 'hedgehog holly' - that was the name I found it by on Google. I never heard it called that before, but I took a guess that it's the sort of thing it *might* be called, and googled it.

It would make a great hedge - I bought it (along with a female) because I wanted to have some berries for the birds in Winter. The female is in a pot - 'cos I haven't yet sorted a space in the garden - and is growing at a much greater rate of knots than the male. I don't know if that is usually the case; or if the one in the pot is faring better in JI No 2 than the male in garden soil with loads of compost added

It's lovely, isn't it?

I like your style KB... post onto h2g2, answer your own query and start up a conversation anyhow

Interestingly I've seen no holly at all over here. I'd have thought that the colonisers from Europe would have brought such an iconic reminder of Christmas and churchyards

It's one of those unfortunate things Frenchbean - and I don't even have age as an excuse. Very often the exact minute I post a question I remember the answer myself. This time I used google, but I still feel a wee bit proud for guessing that it was called hedgehog holly!

Where is 'over here' to you?

Australia

Fortunately I *do* have (middle) age as an excuse these days I phoned a friend the other day and as soon as he picked up the phone my mind went completely blank: I had no idea why I'd called him. Luckily for me, he did know and was able to answer my question without it being asked

How is the entry coming along?

Have you come accross the deciduous holly yet? Ilex Verticillata. If i was going to have a holly in my garden, it would be that one. Mainly because t does'nt look like a holly

The entry's coming along fine!

I hate doing "plant profiles" as entries. I know it is my training coming through here, but not everyone is interested in the details of plants.

I think the idea is to bring it to a wider audience.

...So five vouchers to the next winner!

Link for the entry please KB

Scorpio_, the link is http://www.theA4pad sitting on my desk.com

I recognise that link, Bomba I have one or two of my own

Not familiar with verticulata, but I get the feeling you hate holly?

I am writing it Frenchbean - but I write better on paper. I research better in a library than I do in a net cafe, unfortunatly.

Yup, me too.
I still find the power of the pen more attractive than that of the keyboard

I'm not an by any stretch of the imagination! I resent that.

I'll forgive you though. I enjoyed the Northwest Passage.

I was describing myself
NWPassage interesting - did you go on to read the John Rae entry? Even more interesting imho