NAT. ORDER. 



Scabrida. 



MORUS NIGRA. COMMON MULBERRY TREE. 



Class XXI. MoNCECiA. Order IV. Tetrandria. 



Gen. Char. Male, Calyx four-parted. Corolla none. Female, 

 Calyx four-leaved, Corolla none. Styles two. Calyx becom- 

 ing a berry. Seeds one. 



Spe Char. Leaves cordate, rugged. 



This species of mulberry, grows from ten to twenty feet in 

 height but sends off several crooked branches, and is covered with 

 rough brown bark ; the leaves are numerous, heart-shaped, serra 

 ted, veined, rough, of a light green color, and stand upoa short foot- 

 stalks ; the Jlowers are male and female upon the same tree, the 

 ?nale /lowers are placed in close roundish catkins, each floret com- 

 posed of a calyx, divided into four leaves, which are oval, concave, 

 and erect; there is no corolla ; the Jilaments are four, longer than 

 the calyx, and furnished with simple anthers ; the calyx of the fe- 

 male jloioer is divided into four obtuse persistent segments ; corolla 

 none; the germen is roundish, and supports two rough styles, sup- 

 plied with simple stigmas ; the fruit is a large succulent berry com- 

 posed of a number of smaller berries, each containing an oval seed, 

 and affixed to a common receptacle. It flowers in June and its 

 fruit ripens in September. 



The Mulberry tree is a native of Italy, from whence it has been 

 introduced and cultivated in almost every part o'i the civilized 

 world, not only for the grateful fruit which it affords, but in most 



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