KNEE-HOLLY, or Butcher's Broom: A genus of the syngenesia order, belonging to the dioecia clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 11th order, Sarmenaceae. The male calyx is hexaphyllous; there is no corolla; the nectarium is central, ovate, and perforated at the top. The female calyx, corolla, and nectarium, are the same as in the male; there is one style, with a trilocular two-seeded berry.

The most remarkable species is the aculeatus, or common butcher's broom, common in the woods in many parts of England. It has roots composed of many thick fibres which twine about each other; from which arise several stiff green stalks about three feet high, fending out from their sides several short branches, garnished with stiff, oval, heart-shaped leaves, placed alternately on every part of the stalk, ending with sharp prickly points. The flowers are produced in the middle, on the upper side of the leaves; they are small, and cut into six parts; of a purple colour, fitting close to the midrib. They appear in June; and the female flowers are succeeded by berries as large as cherries, of a sweetish taste, which ripen in winter; when they are of a beautiful red colour. As this plant grows wild in most parts of England, it is rarely admitted into gardens; but if some of the roots are planted under tall trees in large plantations, they will spread into large clumps; and as they retain their leaves in winter, at that season they will have a good effect. The seeds of this plant generally lie a year in the ground before they vegetate; and the plants so raised are long before they arrive at a size big enough to make any figure, and therefore it is much better to transplant the roots.—The root of this plant is accounted aperient, and in this intention is sometimes made an ingredient in apozems and diet-drinks, for opening slight obstructions of the visceræ and promoting the fluid secretions. This plant is used by the butchers for besoms to sweep their blocks. Hucksters place the boughs round their bacon and cheese to defend them from the mice; for they cannot make their way through the prickly leaves.