278 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES MUCHERUS 



plant of the Composite family (Compositse). It is a native of 

 China. The blister is produced by burning small pellets of the 

 dried plant on the skin. 



Mucherus, a name in India for a gummy substance obtained 

 from the bark oiBomhax malaharicum, a tall tree of the Silk Cot- 

 ton family (Bombacete). It is sold in the bazaars as a medicine. 



Mucor, the name of a typical genus of a host of cryptogamic 

 plants of the Fungus family, familiarly known as Moulds and 

 Mildews. The microscope shows them to consist of variously- 

 formed cells, successively producing their like, forming chain- 

 like filaments, generally uniting, becoming a white and woolly- 

 like w^eb, which rapidly spreads to the stems, leaves, and fruits 

 of plants, even entering and penetrating their substances, 

 causing great destruction to field and garden crops. The most 

 important of these destructive fungi are noticed under Potato, 

 Vine, Wheat, Coffee, and Turnip (Avhich see ; also see Fungi). 



Mudar and Yercum, names in different parts of India for 

 Calotwjjis gigantea, a tree of the Swallowwort family (Ascle- 

 piadacese), attaining a height of 10 to 20 feet. Its stem and 

 branches are covered with a fibrous, corky, soft bark ; its leaves 

 are opposite, about 6 inches in length. Its fruit is full of fine 

 silky hairs ; and the whole tree abounds in milky sap. The inner 

 bark consists of fibre, equal to that of hemp in firmness and 

 strength. The tree is common throughout India, as is also an 

 allied species {C. grocer a), which extends throughout Western 

 Asia and Eastern Africa, abundant in the valley of the Dead 

 Sea. Its milky sap contains caoutchouc, but not in sufficient 

 quantity to repay the cost of its extraction. 



Mukita. {See Gingerbread Plum.) 



Mulberry Tree {Morus nigra), of the family jMoracecT. The 

 common black Mulberry is believed to be a native of Western 

 Asia, and early spread throughout Southern Europe and Northern 

 Africa. It appears to have been introduced into this country 

 more than 300 years ago, but the climate not being favourable 

 for the production of silk, it is chiefly valued for its fruit, which 

 consists of a number of one-seeded ovaries connected together 



