t URTICAOEAB 285 



385. ItlCTRVS, Tourmf. 

 [From Morea, the Greek name of the Mulberry.] 



Flowers mostly monoicous: calyx 4-parted. STAM. FL. in loose 

 ament-like spikes, the spikes sometimes androgynous. PISTILLATE 

 FL. in short dense spikes. Ovary 2-celled, one of the cells smaller, 

 and disappearing ; styles 2, filiform, stigmatic on the inner side. 

 Akene compressed, ovate, covered by the persistent succulent calyx, 

 the whole spike thus becoming a compound terete oblong berry. 

 Leaves often lobed ; flowers greenish. 



1. M. rrtbra, L. Leaves cordate-ovate, acuminate, sometimes 2- 

 or 3-lobed, scabrous above, pubescent beneath ; fruit dark purple. 

 RED MORUS. Red Mulberry. 



Stem usually 15 to 25 feet high, with numerous spreading branches. Leaves 4 

 to 6 or 8 inches long, dentate-serrate, often lobed on young plants ; petioles 1 to 3 

 inches in length. Flowers numerous, in axillary pedunculate ament-like spikes, 

 often androgynous, sometimes dioicous. Staminate spikes 1 to near 2 inches 

 long. Pistillate spikes about an inch long, becoming juicy, sweet, and pleasantly 

 esculent when mature. 

 Hob, Rich woodlands ; fence-rows, &c. : frequent. FL May. Fr. July. 



Obs. The wood of this small tree is very durable ; and the fruit 

 preferred to that of any other species, known here. 



2. M. dlba, L. Leaves obliquely cordate-ovate, acute, somewhat 

 lobed, smoothish and shining ; fruit usually yellowish- white. 

 WHITE MORUS. White Mulberry. 



Stem 10 to 20 or 25 feet high, branched, and spreading at top. Leaves 2 to 4 

 inches long (in young plants, much larger), unequally crenate-serrate, yellowish- 

 green; petioles % an inch to an inch in length. Pistillate spikes shorter and 

 smaller than in the preceding. Fruit straw-color, when mature, rarely dark 

 purple or nearly black. 

 Sab. Fence-rows, &c. Nat. of Asia. FL May. Fr. July. 



Obs. The White Mulberry was introduced into this County, nearly 

 a century since, with a view to the Silk-culture. The project, how- 

 ever, was soon abandoned ; for, in that early stage of the Colony 

 with all manufacturing pursuits discountenanced by the Mother 

 Country the sparsely settled Agriculturists soon found it more 

 profitable to attend to mammiferous animals, rather than Insects. 

 But the tree became partially naturalized, and is yet to be seen 

 about a number of old settlements. About fifteen years ago, a 

 variety of this species of smaller stature and much larger leaves 

 (well-remembered by the name of Morus multicaulis] was intro- 

 duced, as being still better adapted to the feeding of Silk- worms ; 

 and soon thereafter, a scene of speculation and infatuation was 

 exhibited, thoughout the U. States, which like some of its Euro- 

 pean prototypes bade defiance to all the suggestions of reason and 

 common sense. There was a sort of wild enthusiasm, or furor, so 

 universal and vehement, that it became positively ludicrous; and 

 was scarcely exceeded, in absurdity, by the nearly contemporaneous 

 epidemic, which led our excitable people, in a fit of political delirium, to 

 wage a destructive war upon their own currency. During the preva- 

 lence of the Moro-mania, every body was eagerly engaged in prop- 



