308 TREES OF MINNESOTA. 



No deciduous tree presents a more graceful appearance in 

 winter when the finely divided spray of the limbs, and the small 

 size of the young growth make it very attractive. In this sec- 

 tion it is preferred to the White Elm for a shade tree by some 

 experienced planters. It endures drouth well, but is probably 

 not as hardy in this way as the White Elm. It is also less 

 liable to split in the crotches. The wood to some extent is 

 used to take the place of elm, as in harness making. 



MORACEAE. MULBERRY FAMILY, 



The largest genus of this family is Ficus, which contains over 

 600 known species, including the cultivated fig (Ficus carica) 

 and the Indiarubber Tree (Ficus elastica). The following genus 

 contains about ten species, natives of the northern hemisphere. 



Genus MORTIS. 



Trees or shrubs with milky sap and alternate, dentate and 

 often lobed leaves. Flowers monoecious or dioecious (rarely 

 polygamous) in axillary catkin-like spikes, the pistillate spikes 

 ripening into succulent aggregated fruits. Calyx four-parted, 

 in the pistillate flower becoming fleshy; stamens four; pistils 

 one; stigma two. 



Morus rubra. Red Mulberry. 



Leaves ovate or nearly orbicular in outline, acute or taper- 

 pointed, occasionally deeply lobed, glabrous above, persistently 

 pubescent beneath, or when young almost tomentose. Flowers 

 appear with the unfolding of the leaves. The fruit, which is at first 

 bright red, when fully grown becomes dark purple or nearly black, 

 and when fully ripe is sweet, juicy and pleasant to the taste. It 

 ripens in summer, and is from one to one and one-fourth inches 

 long. South, it forms a large tree, with brown rough bark, 

 but within our range it is a small tree or mere shrub. 



Distribution. Vermont to Ontario, Michigan, and South Da- 

 kota and south to Florida and Texas. In Minnesota it reaches 

 its northern limit in Hu- southern part of the state. 



