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HOLLY FAMILY 



A genus of about 160 species, mostly natives of America, some in Asia, 

 Africa and Australia. In addition to the following about 12 species occur 

 in the eastern and southeastern parts of the U. S. 



Ilex verticillata (Linne) A. Gray 1856 Virginia Winter-berry 



Black Alder 



A shrub .5-6 m. high, with a smooth grayish bark, twigs glabrous or 

 slightly pubescent ; leaves oval, obovate, or oblong-lanceolate, acute at 

 the base, acute or acuminate at the apex, serrate, dark green and nearly 

 glabrous above, pubescent at least on the veins beneath, 4-11 cm. long, 

 1.5-4 cm. wide, petioles 8-12 mm. long; flowers mostly crowded, pedicels 

 about 3 mm. long, sepals ciliate on the margins, petals spreading or re- 

 flexed ; fruit a bright red drupe, 6-7 mm. in diameter : verticillata, 

 in whorls. 



Common in swamps throughout the northern and northeastern parts 

 of the state, and occasionally as far south as Lake Pepin. Distributed 

 from Nova Scotia to Florida, west to western Ontario, Minn, and Mo. 

 Blossoms in June, fruit ripe in September. 



