Moms nigra, 

 THE BLACK-FRUITED MULBERRY-TREE. 



Synonymes. 



Morus nigra, 



Murier noir, 



Schwarzer Maulbeerbaum, 



Moro nero, IMore nere, 



Moral negro, 



Black Mulberry-tree, 



LiNN^us, Species Plantarum. 



PoiRET, Enc3'clopetiie INIijihodique. 



Loudon, Arboretum Brilannicum. 



France. 



Germany. 



Italy. 



Spain. 



Britain and Anglo- Amebic a. 



Derivation. The specific name nigra is derived from the Latin niger, black ; referring to the colour of the fruit of this i ree. 



Engravings. Nouveau Du Hamel, iv., pi. 22 ; Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, iii., fig. 1222, and vii., pi. 223 et 244; and 

 the figures below. 



Specific Characters. Sexes monoecious, sometimes dioecious. Leaves heart-shaped, bluntish. or slightly 

 lobed, with about 5 lobes ; toothed with unequal teeth, rough. Willdenow. Linncei Spec. Plant. 



Description. 



" But cautiously the Mulberry did move, 

 And first the temper of the skies would prove ; 

 What sign the sun was in, and if she might 

 Give credit yet to winter's seeming flight ; 

 She dares not venture on his first retreat. 

 Nor trust her fruil and leaves to ikniblful heat; 

 Her ready sap within her bark confines, 

 Till she of settled warmth has certain signs ! 

 Then, making rich amends for the delay, 

 With sudden haste she dons her green array ; 

 In two short months her purple fruil aiipears, 

 And of two lovers slain the tincture wears. 

 Her fruit is rich, but she doth leaves produce 

 Of far surpassing worth, and noble use." 



Cowley. 



^^. 



-^ 



arms 

 large 



near 

 head. 



^to^^^^^ 



5^''^ HE Morus nigra is generally 



^ ^-[P 1^ a low tree, seldom exceeding <f 



^ U ^ twenty or thirty feet in height, 



is^^^^ often spreading into very thick 

 the ground, and forming an extremely 

 with numerous branches. The bark is 

 thick and rough, and in this respect alone, this spe- 

 cies may be readily distinguished from the Morus alba, 

 the bark of which is light. The leaves of the black 



mulberry, which are very rough, are broad, heart-shaped, unequally serrated, and 

 are among the last to appear in the spring. This species is soniciimes perfectly 

 doecious, and very frequently partially so; the stamens being in greater perfec- 

 tion in most flowers of one tree, and the pistils in those of another; but, as in tlie 

 case of most other moiKncions trees, it often produces male blossoms for many 

 years after it is planted, and yet afterwards becomes fruitful. The flowers, 

 which put forth in May or June, are succeeded by large, dark-purple fruit, very 

 wholesome and agreeable to the palate. 



Variety. M. n. laciniata, liOiidon. Cut-lcavcii or Jaggcd-lcavcd Bhiclc Mtd- 

 berry, with leaves jagged, rather than cut. 



Geography and History. 'Vhc Morus nigra is generally supposed to be a native 

 of Persia, where there are still masses of it found in a seemingly wild state; 

 and, although the date of its introduction into Europe is unknown, it is occasion- 



