Handbook of Treles of the North kkn States 



Tlie Paper Mulberry is an introduced tree 

 from eastern Asia and the neighboring ishuids. 

 Introduced into this country for oniainciital 

 purposes it has escaped and become naturalized 

 in many localities in the Atlantic states from 

 New York to Florida and as far west as Mis- 

 souri. It does not often attain a greater 

 heiglit than 40 or 50 ft. but develops a wide- 

 spreading rounded top of ample vigorous foli- 

 age and short trunk 3 or 4 ft. in thickness. 

 The bark of young trunks is quite smooth and 

 handsomely reticulated with pale yellow lines. 

 Old trunks commonly become singularly 

 gnarled and convoluted. The tree is called 

 Paper Mulberry from the fact that paper of 

 very good quality is made in China and Japan 

 from its inner bark. The tapa-eloth which is 

 used extensively by the South Pacific Islanders 

 is also a product of this tree, being made from 

 the inner bark by maceration and pounding 

 to remove the non-fibrous portion. 



The wood is rather soft, light, coarse-grained 

 and easily worked, but of no commercial im- 

 portance in this country. 1 



Leaves usually ovate. .3-8 in. long, not lobed and 

 also (especially on young plants i variously o-5- 

 lobed Of with single lobe on one side all forms 

 commonly on the same tree, cordate or rounded 

 at base, acuminate, serrate-dentate, rough above, 

 velvety tomentose l)eneath, long "petiolatc 

 Floireis in middle spring, staminate anicnts 

 pedunoled. Fruit heads % in. across, with nd 

 exserted fleshy perianth. - 



1. A. W., XI, 266. 



2. For genus see p. 4:!8. 



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