(NETTLE FAMILY ) 397 



in pairs, ped uncled, appearing with the leaves; the lower usua ly staminate 

 only, in little fascicles or racemose along the base of the branches of the season. 

 (An ancient Greek name for the Lotus ; the fruit of the European Nettle-tree 

 is supposed to have been the food of the Lotojihayi.) 



1. C. occidentalis, L. (SUGARBERRY. HACKBERRY.) Leaves retic- 

 ulated, ovate, cordate-ovate and ovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed, usually con- 

 spicuously and sharply so, more or less oblique at the base, glabrous, sharply 

 serrate, sometimes sparingly so, or soft-pubescent beneath, at least when young ; 

 fruit on a peduncle from once to twice the length of the petiole, reddish or yel- 

 lowish, turning dark purple at maturity, its peduncle once or twice the length 

 of tV.e petiole. (Also C. Audibertiana, Spach., &c.) Woods and river-banks, 

 S. ftew England to Wisconsin and southward. April, May. A small or 

 middle-sized tree, with the aspect of an Elm, with sweet and edible fruits as 

 large as bird-cherries, at first obovate, ripe in autumn ; the flesh thin. Var. 

 FUMILA. Low and straggling (4 -10 high) ; leaves thin when mature, and 

 smooth, slightly acuminate. (C. pumila, Pursh.) River-banks, on rocks, from 

 Maryland southward. Var. CRASSirftLiA. A tall or low tree ; leaves thick- 

 er, usually serrate all round, and with a long tapering point, dull above, pale 

 beneath. (C. crassifolia, Lam.) Common southward and westward. All 

 plainly of one species. 



2. C. MiSSiSSippienSiS, Bosc. Leaves entire, very long taper-pointed, 

 rounded at the base, mostly oblique, thin, and smooth ; fruit small. ( C. inte- 

 grifolia, Nutt.) W. Kentucky (and Illinois?) and southwestward. Even this 

 probably runs into the last. 



SUBORDER II. ARTOCARPEJE. BREAD-FRUIT & FIG FAMILY. 



4. MORUS, Toum. MULBERRY. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious ; the two kinds in separate axillary catkin- 

 like spikes. Calyx 4-parted, the sepals ovate. Stamens 4 : filaments elastically 

 expanding. Ovary 2-celled, one of the cells smaller and disappearing : styles 

 2, thread-form, stigmatic down the inside. Achenium ovate, compressed, cov- 

 ered by the succulent berry-like calyx, the whole fertile spike thus becoming a 

 thickened oblong and juicy (edible) aggregate fruit. Trees with milky juice 

 and rounded leaves : sterile spikes rather slender. (Mopea, the ancient name.) 



1. HI. riibra, L. (RED MULBERRY.) Leaves heart-ovate, serrate, rough 

 above, doumy underneath, pointed (on young shoots often variously lobed) ; flow- 

 ers frequently dioecious ; fruit dark purple. Rich woods, New England to Illi- 

 nois and southward. May. A small tree, ripening its sweetish black berry- 

 like fruit in July. 



2. Itl. ALBA, L. (WHITE MULBERRY.) Leaves obliquely heart-ovate, 

 acute, serrate, sometimes lobed, smooth and shining ; fruit whitish. Spontaneous 

 near houses : introduced for feeding silk-worms. (Adv. from Eu.) 



M. NIGRA, L., the BLACK MULBERRY of Europe, is also occasionally cnl 

 tivated. 



