20 cxxiiic. HORACES (Rendle). [Morus. 



becoming succulent- in the fruit. Ovary enclosed within the calyx, 

 ovoid or subglobose ; ovule solitary, pendulous from the apex of 

 the cell ; stigmas 2, linear-subulate, borne on a central style or 

 sessile. Fruit included in the generally succulent persistent calyx 

 forming a syncarp ; exocarp more or less succulent ; endocarp 

 crustaceous. Seed with a thin membranous testa ; embryo curved 

 in the thick fleshy albumen ; cotyledons oblong, equal ; radicle 

 ascending. — Trees or shrubs with a thick milky juice. Leaves 

 petioled, alternate, entire or lobed ; stipules lateral, small, caducous. 

 Flowers in solitary axillary unisexual spikes ; male catkin-like ; 

 female (in African species) short, densely flowered. 



Species 6 or 7, in the warm temperate regions of the northern hemisphere 

 and elevated regions in the tropics. Doubtfully native in tropical Africa. 

 Leaves ovate or cordate, not 3-nerved : 



Leaves shortly acuminate ; stigmas sessile ... ... I. M. nigra. 



Leaves caudate -acuminate ; stigmas borne on an 



evident style ... ... ... ... ... ... 2. M.indka. 



Leaves more or less elliptic ... ... ... ... 3. M. mesozygia. 



1. M. nigra, Linn. Sp. PL ed. i. 986. A tree of moderate height 

 with much-branched spreading crown ; branchlets terete, reddish- 

 brown, pubescent when young. Leaves petioled, broadly cordate 

 (rarely lobed), shortly acuminate, base subequal, margin somewhat 

 unequally serrate-dentate, 3J-5J in. long, 2|-3| in. wide, firm, 

 upper surface deep green and scabrous, paler and sparsely pubescent 

 beneath ; lateral nerves 4-5 on each side, somewhat raised beneath, 

 ascending ; petiole slender, almost terete, pubescent, 1-1 J in. long. 

 Male and female flowers on distinct branches, sometimes dioecious. 

 Male inflorescence cylindrical, |-1J in. long ; female shortly 

 ellipsoidal, J-J in. long. Male flowers : sepals 4, broadly elliptic, 

 concave, woolly on the back, 1 lin. long ; stamens slightly ex- 

 ceeding the sepals. Female flowers : sepals woolly at the apex ; 

 stigmas sessile, densely hairy, 1-1 J lin. long ; s}Ticarp deep purple, 

 about I in. long, very succulent. — Bureau in DC. Prodr. xvii. 238 ; 

 Ficalho, PI. Uteis, 269 ; Engl. Monogr. Morac. Afr. 3 ; Hiern in 

 Cat. Afr. PL Welw. i. 1027. 



Lower Guinea. Angola : Mossamedes ; cultivated in gardens at Cavalheiros, 

 Welwitsch, 1652 ! 



Leaves somewhat smoother than usual. The black mulberry. Supposed to 

 be a native of North Persia. Widely cultivated. 



2. M. indlca, Linn. Sp. PI. ed. i. 986. A shrub or small tree ; 

 branchlets terete, greyish to brown, puberulous when young, other- 

 wise glabrous. Leaves petioled, ovate, sometimes lobed, caudate- 

 acuminate, base retuse to shallowly cordate, margin serrate, teeth 

 shortly apiculate, IJ— 5 in. long, 1-3 in. wide, membranous, 

 upper surface deep green and scabrous, paler and sparsely puberu- 

 lous on the nerves beneath ; lateral nerves 3, sometimes 4-5 on each 



