436 GENERAL MORPHOLOGY OF PLANTS 



paper mulberries furnish from their bark the fiber for making the 

 beautiful Japanese paper. 



587. The fig (Ficus carica) is another fruit in this family. 

 The fig is cultivated extensively in southern Europe and Asia, 

 and to a slight extent in some of the Southern States, but in 

 California it bids fair to become an important addition to the 

 great fruit industry of that State (paragraph 311). Our chief 

 supply comes from the Mediterranean region. 



588. The bread fruit (Artocarpus incisa) is a member of this 

 family, native to the south Pacific Islands. Recently it has been 

 introduced in tropical parts of America. The tree bears a round- 

 ish fruit four to eight inches in diameter. When baked it much 

 resembles bread, and is one of the chief sources of food for the 

 natives of these islands. 



589. The rose family (Rosaceae). These plants are culti- 

 vated in a vast number of varieties chiefly for their beautiful 

 flowers. Among the fruits may be mentioned the following. 

 Strawberries (see paragraph 340). Like all of our common 

 fruits there are many cultivated varieties of strawberries. They 

 originated from the species native in Chili about two hundred 

 years ago, and being hardy are widely distributed from tropical to 

 arctic regions. They are propagated by runners, new plants for 

 transplanting being obtained from the young ones formed where 

 the runners strike root. Our native wild species is edible, but 

 has not been successfully cultivated, nor does it occur in suffi- 

 cient quantity for market, while in parts of Europe wild straw- 

 berries are abundant and are found in the markets during the 

 entire summer season. They are much prized, though much 

 smaller than the cultivated ones. Raspberries and blackberries 

 (aggregate fruits, see paragraph 337) are shrubs, and are also 

 extensively cultivated in many varieties, though certain wild spe- 

 cies produce abundant and luscious fruit in some sections. They 

 are propagated by cuttings and by layers, since certain species prop- 

 agate naturally by striking root where the tips touch the ground. 



590. The apple family (Pomaceae) . This family includes 

 the apples, pears, and quinces. These are called pome fruits 



