528 



MORACEAE. 

 i. Morus rubra L,. Red Mulberry. (Fig. 1257.) 



Morus rubra !< Sp. PI. 986. 1753. 



A tree, attaining a maximum height of 

 about 65 and a trunk diameter of 7, the 

 bark brown and rough. Leaves ovate or 

 nearly orbicular in outline, scabrous above, 

 persistently pubescent beneath, or when 

 young almost tomentose, acuminate at the 

 apex, rounded, truncate or cordate at the 

 base, serrate-dentate or 3-/-lobed, 3 / ~5 / 

 long; petioles slender, / // -i8' / long; stami- 

 nate spikes drooping, ij^ / -3 / long; pistillate 

 spikes spreading or pendulous in fruit, i'- 

 \ l /z f long, 4 // ~5 // in diameter when mature, 

 slender-peduncled, dark purple-red, deli- 



In rich soil, Vermont and Ontario to Michi- 

 gan and South Dakota, south to Florida and 

 Texas. Wood soft, weak, compact, durable -, 

 color light yellow; weight per cubic foot 37 

 Ibs. April-May. Fruit ripe in June. 



2. Morus alba L. White Mulberry. (Fig. 1258.) 



Morus alba L. Sp. PI. 986. 1753. 



A small tree, sometimes 40 high and with 

 a trunk 3 in diameter, the bark light gray, 

 rough, the branches spreading. Leaves 

 ovate, thin, smooth, glabrous and somewhat 

 shining on both sides, acute or abruptly acu- 

 minate at the apex, rounded, truncate or cor- 

 date at the base, varying from serrate to vari- 

 ously lobed, 2 f -6' long; petioles slender, 

 shorter than the blades; staminate spikes 

 slender, drooping, about i' long; pistillate 

 spikes oblong or subglobose, drooping, 5"- 

 7" long, 3" in diameter and white or pinkish 

 when mature, not as succulent as those of 

 the preceding species. 



Sparingly escaped from cultivation, Maine 

 and Ontario to Florida. Introduced from the 

 Old World for feeding silkworms. May. Fruit 

 ripe July-Aug. 



1817. 



2. TOXYLON Raf. Am. Month. Mag. 2: 118. 

 [MACLURA Nutt. Gen. 2: 233. 1818.] 



A tree, with milky sap, thick entire dark green alternate petioled pinnately veined 

 leaves, stout axillary spines, caducous stipules and dioecious axillary flowers, the staminate 

 racemose, the pistillate capitate. Staminate flowers with a 4-parted calyx, its segments val- 

 vate, and 4 stamens, the filaments inflexed in the bud, straightening and somewhat exserted 

 in anthesis. Pistillate flowers with a 4-cleft calyx enclosing the sessile ovary, and a filiform 

 simple long-exserted style, the calyces becoming fleshy and enlarged in fruit, densely aggre- 

 gated into a large globular head. Endosperm none; embryo curved. [Name Greek, signi- 

 fying bow-wood.] 



A monotypic genus of the south-central United States. 



