38 URTICACEM. [ MORUS. 



'This is the Mulberry which has been used chiefly throughout north- 

 western India for supplying food for silkworms. For this purpose, as 

 well as for the sake of its edible fruit, it is widely cultivated in the 

 Punjab, Kashmir and in many other parts of the N. W. Frontier. 

 Although often met with as apparently wild in many places, its 

 'Original home is probably in N. Asia or China. Within the area 

 of this flora the young leaves and the flowers appear in February, 

 The fruit, which ripens during May and June is much eaten by the 

 'People, by whom many distinct forms are recognized, varying in the 

 size of the tree and in the shape and colour of the fruiting spikes. 

 The wood is much used in making furniture and agricultural imple- 

 ments, and on many of the Punjab rivers for boat-building. The 

 leaves afford excellent fodder for sheep and goats, and the twigs are 

 used for binding loads. Closely allied to the preceding species is 

 M. ATROPTJRPUREA, Roxb. Fl. Ind. in, 595. It was introduced from 

 China, and is now cultivated in various parts of India. The leaves 

 are cordate, serrate and rarely lobed, smooth, and the long cylindric 

 fruiting spikes are dark-purple when ripe. -M. NIGRA, Linn. ; Brandis 

 For. Fl. 407 ; D. C. L'Orig PL Cult. 121. Vern Shah tut. (Black 

 Mulberry). This tree* is extensively cultivated in the Peshawar 

 Valley, in Kashmir, also in many parts of the N. W. frontier, and 

 beyond in Baluchistan and Afghanistan. It is also grown in Europe, 

 in W. and Cent. Asia and in China. Its original home is not knowr 

 with certainty, though it is said to be wild in Persia, whence it was 

 introduced into Greece and Italy. M. SERRATA, Roxb. Fl. Ind. Hi, 

 596 : Brandis For. FL 409 ; Ind. Trees 612 ; Gamble Man. 635 ; Kanji- 

 lal For. FL 365. Vern. Kimu., himu, tut, tunt. A large deciduous 

 tree, cultivated in Dehra Dun, but wild on the outer ranges of the 

 W. Himalaya up to 9,000 ft. Leaves 2-8 in. long, broadly ovate- 

 cordate, acumi ate. coarsely toothed or serrate, softly pubescent 

 beneath. Flowers dioecious. Styles hairy, connate below. Fruit 

 shortly cylindric, purple and sweet when ripe. The wood, which 

 seasons well and takes a fine polish, is valued for cabinet work and 

 is also used for making agricultural implements and tennis bats. 

 The tree is often lopped for cattle fodder. 



14. STREBLUS, Lour. ; Fl. Brit, Ind. v, 489. 



Unarmed shrubs or trees with milky juice. Leaves alternate, 

 penninerved, scabrid ; stipules small, lanceolate. Flowers axillary, 

 usually dioscious ; males in peduncled heads or spikes ; fern, flowers 

 .solitary or 2-4 together, stalked, bracteate. MALE flowers. Sepals 



