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RED MULBERRY 



{Morns rubra L.) 



THE red mulberry occurs throughout the State. 

 It prefers rich soils and is nowhere abundant. It 

 is commonly called mulberry as there are no other 

 native species. The white mulberry and paper mul- 

 berry, which are sometimes found in waste places, 

 are introduced species which have to some extent 

 become naturalized. The red mulberry is a small 



RED MULBERRY 

 Twig, two-thirds natural size. Leaf, one-third natural size. 



tree, rarely 50 feet high and 2 feet in diameter, often 

 growing in the shade of larger trees. 



The bark is rather thin, dark grayish brown, peel- 

 ing off in long narrow flakes. 



The leaves are alternate, thin, rounded or some- 

 what heart-shaped, toothed, pointed, 3 to 5 inches 

 long, rough hairy above and soft hairy beneath. 

 Often some of the leaves, especially on young trees 

 and thrifty shoots, are mitten-shaped or variously 

 lobed. 



The flowers are of two kinds, on the same or dif- 

 ferent trees, in long drooping catkins, the female 

 catkins shorter, appearing with the leaves. The 

 fruit is dark red or black, and resembles a black- 

 berry; however, a stalk extends through it centrally, 

 and it is longer and narrower. The fruit is sweet 

 and edible and greatly relished by birds and various 

 animals. 



The wood is rather light, soft, not strong, light 

 orange-yellow, and very durable in contact with the 

 soil. It is chiefly used for fence posts. The tree 

 might be planted for this purpose and to furnish 

 food for birds. 



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