GENUS i. 



MULBERRY FAMILY. 



631 



perianth, which becomes fleshy in fruit, a sessile ovary, and 2 linear spreading stigmas. 

 Fruiting perianth enclosing the ripened ovary (achene) the exocarp succulent, the endocarp 

 crustaceous. Endosperm scanty; embryo curved. [The ancient name of the mulberry; 

 Celtic mot:] 



About 10 species, natives of the northern hemisphere. Besides the following, two others occur 

 in the southern United States. Type species : Morns nigra L. 



Leaves rough above, pubescent beneath; fruit purple; spikes I'-iJ^' long. i. M.nibra. 



Leaves smooth and glabrous, or very nearly so, on both sides; fruit nearly white; spikes 5"-?" long. 



2. M. alba. 

 b t^ A 



i. Morus rubra L. Red Mulberry. 

 Fig- 1550- 



Morus rubra L. Sp. PI. 986. 1753. 



A tree, attaining a maximum height of about 

 65 and a trunk diameter of 7, the bark 

 brown and rough. Leaves ovate or nearly 

 orbicular in outline, scabrous above, persist- 

 ently pubescent beneath, or when young almost 

 tomentose, acuminate at the apex, rounded, 

 truncate or cordate at the base, serrate-dentate 

 or 3-/-lobed, 3' -5' long ; petioles slender, /"- 

 1 8" long; staminate spikes drooping, I^'-T,' 

 long; pistillate spikes spreading or pendulous 

 in fruit, i'-ii' long, 4"-$" in diameter when 

 mature, slender-peduncled, dark purple-red, 

 delicious. 



In rich soil, Vermont and Ontario to Michigan 

 and South Dakota, south to Florida and Texas. 

 Wood soft, weak, compact, durable ; color light 

 yellow ; weight per cubic foot 37 Ibs. April-May. 

 Fruit ripe in June-July. 



2. Morus alba L. White Mulberry. 

 Fig- I55i- 



Morus alba L. Sp. PI. 986. 1753. 



A small tree, sometimes 40 high and with 

 a trunk 3 in diameter, the bark light gray, 

 rough, the branches spreading. Leaves ovate, 

 thin, smooth, glabrous and somewhat shining 

 on both sides, acute or abruptly acuminate at 

 the apex, rounded, truncate or cordate at the 

 base, varying from serrate to variously lobed, 

 2 f -6' long; petioles slender, shorter than the 

 blades ; staminate spikes slender, drooping, 

 about i' long; pistillate spikes oblong or sub- 

 globose, drooping, 5" -7" long, 3" in diameter 

 and white or pinkish when mature, not as 

 succulent as those of the preceding species. 



Sparingly escaped from cultivation, Maine and 



Ontario to Florida. Introduced from the Old 



World for feeding silkworms. May. Fruit ripe 

 July-Aug. 



Morus nigra L., the black-mulberry of Europe, 

 with smooth leaves and black fruit, has escaped 

 from cultivation in the southeastern states and 

 has been recorded from as far north as New York. 



2. TOXYLON Raf. Am. Month. Mag. 2: 118. 1817. 

 [M.ACLUEA Nutt. Gen. 2: 233. 1818.] 



A tree, with milky sap, thick entire dark green alternate petioled pinnately veined 

 leaves, stout axillary spines, caducous stipules and dioecious axillary flowers, the staminate 

 racemose, the pistillate capitate. Staminate flowers with a 4-parted calyx, its segments 

 valvate, and 4 stamens, the filaments inflexed in the bud, straightening and somewhat 

 exserted in anthesis. Pistillate flowers with a 4-cleft calyx enclosing the sessile ovary, and 



