The Trees of IY./v/x 



89 



Leaves rough above, pubescent beneath, fruit red 



or purplish 1. M. rubra. 



Leaves smooth on both sides or nearly so. 



Leaves large 2- 1 / '-6' long 2. M. alba. 



Leaves small 1-%' long, %' wide 3. M. microphylla. 



1. Morus rubra L. Red Mulberry. A tree 60-70 high, 

 and 3-4 in diameter. The trunk is generally short and the 

 branches stout, forming a dense rounded broad crown. The 

 bark is dark brown somewhat tinged with red, %'-%' thick, 

 fissured into long thin plates. Leaves broadly ovate or ovate- 



Fig. 25. Morus rubra. 



orbicular, contracted at the apex into a long point, heart- 

 shaped or rounded at base, coarsely serrate, frequently 2-7, 

 mostly 3, lobed, smooth above, hairy beneath, thin, dark 

 bluish green, turning yellow before falling from the tree. The 

 flowers appear with the opening of the leaves ; pistillate aments 

 about half as long as the staminate. Fruit cylindric about 

 W-Wz long, dark purple or almost black when mature. 



Massachusetts to Ontario; Michigan and Nebraska, south 

 to Florida and Texas. Occurs most frequently in moist situa- 

 tions. In Texas it extends to the valley of the Colorado River. 



The wood is light, soft, but tough, takes a high polish, dur- 

 able in contact with the soil. It has been used for cross ties 



