442 PRINOS VERTICILLATUS. 
related to the Ilices or Hollys, differing chiefiy 
in the number of its parts. Its character is 
formed by a sia cleft calyw, a monopetalous 
subrotate six cleft corolla, and a sia seeded berry. 
The Prinos verticillatus has its leaves deciduous, 
oval, serrate, acuminate, slightly pubescent be- 
neath ; flowers axillary, aggregate. 
These shrubs have usually been referred to 
Hexandria Monogynia. The present species and 
some others having different flowers on separate 
plants, Michaux was induced to place them in 
Diecia. The natural orders to which they are 
assigned are Dumose:of Linn, and Rhkamni of 
Juss. ; | 
The Black Alder, for so the shrub is waally 
called, is found in swamps and about the edges of 
streams and ponds from Canada to the Southern 
states. Itis irregular in its growth, but most 
commonly forms bunches six or eight feet in 
height. "The leaves are alternate or scattered, 
on short petioles, oval, acute at base, sharply 
serrate, acuminate, with some hairiness, particu- 
larly on the veins underneath, The flowers are 
small, white, growing in little tufts or imperfect 
umbels, which are nearly sessile in the axils of 
the leaves. Calyx small, six cleft, persistent. 
Corolla monopetalous, spreading, without a tube, 
