WINTER, one of the four seasons, the coldest of the year. Astronomically considered, winter begins in northern latitudes when the sun enters the sign of Capricorn, or at the solstice about 21 December, and ends at the equinox in March; but in Its ordinary sense at is taken to include the months of December, January and February.
Several members of the genus Ilex, of the holly family, are known by this name, including the inIrlerry (q.v.). They are all native to eastern North America, but the species commonly indicated by the name is the black alder (I. verticillata), and above scent shrub, common in swampy places and along the banks of streams, often overhanging the water. The acute, oval leaves turn black in autumn, and the axillary cymes of tiny polyga modicecious, whitish flowers, are succeeded by brilliant scarlet berries, that are as large as a pea, and are so crowded on the bare branches as tu appear verticillate. They remain on the shrub all winter, and twigs are often sold by city florists for winter decoration. The bark of the winter-berry is tonic and astringent, and in infusion has been employed as a lotion for dressing ulcers. The smooth winter-berry (I. lerrigata) is a handsome shrub at all seasons and is similar to the black alder, but has larger stalked drupes, of a more orange tint, kw crowded, and ripening earlier.
a solanaceous herb (Physa alkekengi) of the south of Europe, cultivated for its ornamental fruit. It is a downy perennial, with semi-decumbent stems and broad deltoid leaves. The axillary, solitary flowers have campanulate five-lobed whitish corollas. The calyces are also five-toothed and campanulate, but in fruit become inflated so that they are like miniature membranous bal loons surrounding a pulpy, globose, cherry-like berry, which is edible, well flavored and acidu lous, serving chiefly for preserves. These fruit bladders are of a bright scarlet hue, and glow far into the winter. They will even keep their color for some time when cut. The plants are also known as alkekengi, bladder-herb, straw berry-tomato. etc. The Japanese winter-cherry (Physalis froweheti) is very similar, but larger, having branches perhaps two feet high, with rigorous, soft, green foliage. They are pro timely hung with bright orange-colored trans hseent lanterns, three inches in diameter.