HOLLY FAMILY. 



ILICINE^. 



Black Alder. I^^ verticillata. 



Winter Berry. 

 Christmas Berry. 



Found in moist wayside thickets, and on the borders of small 

 streams ; the inconspicuous flowers opening in June and July, and the 

 bright berries ripening in October. 



This shrub is from 3 to 5 or 8 feet high, and has a round, tough 

 stem, covered with a smooth dark gray bark. 



The small oval leaf, tapering at both ends, is thin, and smooth 

 above, but slightly woolly on the ribs beneath ; the color is a strong, 

 full green. 



The small, inconspicuous flower has 4, 5, 6, and sometimes 7 or 8, 

 small rounded divisions, and an equal number of tiny stamens ; these 

 pale, greenish flowers are clustered close to the stem, in the angles of 

 the leaves, on the ends of the branches. 



The bright red berries, about the size of a small pea, glow under 

 the green leaves in early October, and later, among the gray twiggery 

 they are like coals of Are. 



104 



