CLASS MONCECIA. 191 



are collected into aments or catkins, made up of 3- 

 flowered, wedge-shaped, and truncated receptacles or 

 scales. The calyx is the 3-lobed scales of the ament. 

 The corolla is 4-parted. In the fertile floxvcr, the 

 scales of the ament are 2-flowered, and partly trifid. 

 There is no corolla. The seed is compressed and 

 without winged margins. The A. serrulata, with 

 roundish blunt leaves, and never rising above the 

 magnitude of a shrub, is one of our most common 

 plants on the borders of small water-courses. 



The Mulberry tree (Morns) has its flowers in cat- 

 kins. The sterile ones have a 4-parted calyx, and 

 no corolla. The fertile flowers have also a 4-leaved 

 calyx, which becomes a berry, and is equally devoid 

 of corolla. There are 2 styles, and but one seed. 

 To the same genus, though perhaps not very cor- 

 rectly, was referred the Fustick tree of commerce, 

 or M. tinctoria of the West Indies. This species 

 has oblong ovate leaves, and axillary thorns ; the 

 berry is also spherical, and very sweet to the taste. 

 The genus belongs to the Urtice;e, or natural family 

 of the Nettle. Nearly related to this genus and very 

 similar in habit or general aspect, is the Broussonetia, 

 or Paper Mulberry, from the bark of which is pre- 

 pared the linen worn by the inhabitants of the Friendly 

 Islands, in the Pacific. 



On the banks of Red River, and in other parts of 

 the Arkansa territory, is found a considerable tree 

 related to the Fustick, with heavy yellow wood, en- 

 tirely similar. It also produces ovate, acute, entire, 

 smooth leaves ; has axillary thorns, and sterile flow- 

 ers, with 4-leaved calyces, almost similar to the Mul- 

 berry ; but the fertile flowers have but a single style j 

 and the succulent calyces coalesce, or ingraft together 

 so as to form but a single, spherical, juicy berry, like 

 a large orange ; but not, as far as is yet known, eata- 



