The Shrubs of North Carolina 3 



North and South, and from 8 to 20 feet high. The leaves are 3 to 

 5 and sometimes 6 inches long, about half as broad, with fine 

 sharp teeth on the edges, smooth on both sides, and tapering at 

 the upper end. The berries are red, not in clusters, and with 

 seeds as in I. decidua. 



(I. verticillata, Gray.) — This occurs in all the Districts, and in 

 various soils, 2 to 10 feet high, and has clusters of bright scarlet 

 berries which hang on through the Winter. In some States it is 

 called Winterberry. The leaves are about 2 inches long, of vary- 

 ing width, but generally broader toward the upper end, coarsely 

 toothed, paler and somewhat downy on the underside. The seeds 

 are smooth and even. A decoction of the bark is a popular appli- 

 cation to old sores. 



Gallberry. (I. glabra, Gray.) — This and the next species are 

 evergreen shrubs, indiscriminately called by the above name, 

 sometimes Galls, more rarely Inkberries, names apparently de- 

 rived from their black bitter berries. This is from 3 to 5 feet 

 high, very common in the Branch swamps of the Lower District, 

 and giving its name of Galls or Gallbays to the low places chiefly 

 occupied by it. The leaves are very smooth and green, sparingly 

 toothed, 1 to IV2 inch long, and about half that width. 



Tall Gallberry. (I. coriacea, Chapm.) — This grows in 

 similar situations with the preceding, having the same habit and 

 appearance, but full twice as large, the leaves also much larger, 

 and either entire or with scattered sharp teeth. 



Swamp Dogwood. (Cornus sericea, Linn.) — This and the re- 

 maining species of the genus are only shrubs, but are placed here 

 for the purpose of having all the species of a genus together, as 

 I have done in other genera. With the exception of the last 

 species, they all have their leaves opposite, as in the Dogwood. 

 This is the only one of them which has received notice enough in 

 this State, so far as I have discovered, to get a name. It is 

 found in low woods in the Middle and Upper Districts, has pur- 

 plish branches, is from 6 to 10 feet high, and having rather 

 broad, pointed leaves, which are smooth above and with a silky 

 down beneath. The flowers are white, in flat-topped clusters, 

 succeeded by pale-blue berries. 



(C. stricta, Linn.) — This is 6 to 15 feet high, with brownish or 

 reddish branches, found only in the wet lands of the Lower 

 District . The leaves are about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide, 

 tapering to a point at the upper end, the edges slightly uneven, 

 smooth on both sides, paler and with prominent veins on the 

 underside. The flowers and pale-blue berries are much as in 

 C. sericea. 



