MOEUS RUBRA, L. 103 



Winter Buds and Leaves. -- Buds ovate, obtuse. Leaves 

 simple, alternate, 4-8 inches long, two-thirds as wide, rough 

 above, yellowish-green and densely pubescent when young ; 

 at maturity dark green and downy beneath, turning yellow in 

 autumn ; conspicuously reticulated ; outline variable, ovate, 

 obovate, oblong or broadly oval, serrate-dentate with equal 

 teeth, or irregularly 3-7-lobed ; apex acuminate ; base heart- 

 shaped to truncate; stalk 1-2 inches long; stipules linear, 

 serrate, soon falling. 



Inflorescence. May. Appearing with the leaves from the 

 season's shoots, in axillary spikes, sterile and fertile flowers 

 sometimes on the same tree, sometimes on different trees, 

 sterile flowers in spreading or pendulous spikes, about 1 inch 

 long ; calyx 4-parted ; petals none ; stamens 4, the inflexed 

 filaments of which suddenly straighten themselves as the 

 flower expands : fertile spikes spreading or pendent ; calyx 

 4-parted, becoming fleshy in fruit ; ovary sessile ; stigmas 2, 

 spreading. 



Fruit. July to August. In drooping spikes about 1 inch 

 long and % inch in diameter ; dark purplish-red, oblong, sweet 

 and edible ; apparently a simple fruit but really made up of 

 the thickened calyx lobes of the spike. 



Horticultural Value. Hardy in southern New England ; 

 grows rapidly in a good, moist soil in sun or shade ; the large 

 leaves start late and drop early ; useful where it is hardy, in 

 low tree plantations or as an undergrowth in woods ; readily 

 transplanted, but seldom offered for sale by nurserymen or 

 collectors ; propagated from seed. 



PLATE LIT. MORLTS RUBRA. 



1. Winter buds. 



2. Branch with sterile flowers. 



3. Sterile flower with stamens incurved. 



4. Sterile flower expanded. 



5. Branch with fertile flowers. 



6. Fertile flower, side view. 



7. Fruiting branch, 



