206 Prinos verticillatus. 
Canada to Georgia. It flowers in the month of June, and at this 
time it has a very ordinary appearance; but when its berries are 
- full ripe, which is in the last part of October, and beginning of No- 
vember, is strikingly beautiful. At these periods the leaves remain 
on; but even after they have fallen, the appearance of the shrub, 
from its multitude of rich crimson, and sometimes scarlet berries, 
is exceedingly handsome. , 
The-stem is shrubby, and branched all the way up. The 
branches are alternate, horizontal, spreading, and of a bluish grey or 
ash-colour ; the extremities, or new shoots, being greenish. The 
leaves are oval, tapering at their base, ending in a long point; and 
sawed on their edges. They are of a dark, or somewhat olive-green. 
colour, and smooth above, ‘but downy on the nerves and veins be- 
neath. They are” alternately arranged along the branches, and ‘are 
supported by short foot-stalks. The flowers are often dioicous ; 
small, and white, and grow together in axillary and lateral groups of 
from three to four in number, rarely solitary. “The corolla is mo- 
nopetalous, rotate ; and six, sometimes: seven Cleft. The stamens 
are: generally six-in number. The berries are globular, and vary a 
little in size, as represented in the plate, but are generally of the 
magnitude of a marrowfat pea. As winter advances, they become 
of a more purplish colour. That the plant may be easily identified 
when sought after for medical purposes, I have represented it both 
in flower and fruit; but while in the latter condition, it should be. 
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