Morns nigra, 
O 7 
THE BLACK-FRUITED MULBERRY-TREE. 
Synonymes. 
Morus nigra, 
Murier noir, 
Schwarzer Maulbeerbaum, 
Moro nero, More nere, 
Moral negro, 
Black Mulberry-tree, 
!Linnjeus, Species Plantarum. 
Poiret, Encyclopedie Methodique. 
Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum. 
France. 
Germany. 
Italy. 
Spain. 
Britain and Anglo-America. 
Derivation. The specific name nigra is derived from the Latin niger, black; referring to the co.our of the fruit of ihn tree 
thf^r'Sw. N UVeaU DU Hamd ' iV " P1 ' 22 ' L Ud0n ' Arb0relum Britannicum, iii., fig. 1222, and vii., p.. 223 et ,1 ; 
*SS %5t ^nZ m ^u [ T' S r el[meS , di<Eci0US - Leaves heart-shaped, bluntish, or slightly 
lobed, with about 5 lobes ; toothed with unequal teeth, rough.- Willdenow. Lvmai Spec. Plant. 
Description. 
"But cautiously the Mulberry did move, 
And first the temper of the skies would prove; 
What sign the sun was in, and if she might 
Give credit yet to winter's seeming flight ; 
She dares not venture on his first retreat, 
Nor trust her fruit and leaves to doubtful heat; 
Her ready sap within her bark confines, 
Till she of settled warmth has certain siens ! 
Then, making rich amends for the delay, 
With sudden haste she dons her green array ; 
In two short months her purple fruit appears, 
And of two lovers slain the tincture wears. 
Her fruit is rich, but she doth leaves produce 
Of far surpassing worth, and noble use." 
Cowley. 
jj ^SSS JlHE Morus nigra is generally 
^2 h H iii a low tree, seldom exceeding 
[J |fjf twenty or thirty feet in height. 
^KSH often spreading into very thick 
arms near the ground, and forming an extremely 
large head, with numerous branches. The bark is 
thick and rough, and in this respect alone, this spe- 
cies may be readily distinguished from the Morus alba, 
the bark of which is light. The leaves of the black 
mulberry, which are very rough, are broad, heart-shaped, unequally serrated, and 
are among the last to appear in the spring. This species is sometimes perfectly 
doecious, and very frequently partially so; the stamens being in greater perfec- 
tion in most flowers of one tree, and the pistils in those of another; but, as in the 
case of most other -monoecious trees, it often produces male Mossoms lor many 
years after it is planted, and yet afterwards becomes fruitful. The dowers, 
which put forth in May or June, arc succeeded by large, dark-purple fruit, very 
wholesome and agreeable to the palate. 
Variety. M. n. laciniata, Loudon. Cut-lea nil or Jagged-leaved Black Mid' 
berry, with leaves jagged, rather than cut. 
Geography and History. The Morus nigra is generally supposed to be a native 
of Persia, where there are still masses of it found m a seemingly wild state; 
and, although the date of its introduction into Europe is unknown, il is occasion- 
