4G8 NEW ENGLAND TREES IN WINTER. 



WHITE MULBERRY 



Silkworm Mulberry. 

 Moms alba L. 



HABIT A small tree with a maximum height of 30-40 ft. and with a 

 trunk diameter of less than 3 ft.; branching low with wide spreading 

 limbs forming a low rounded head resembling an apple tree somewhat 

 in habit, but with a characteristic scraggly twigginess to the branch- 

 lets. 



BARK Deeply furrowed into long more or less wavy light yellowish 

 brown ridges. 



TWIGS Slender, yellowish-green to brownish-gray, for the most part 

 smooth, round, more or less shining, generally zigzag, swollen at the 

 nodes, short branches numerous, often arising at right angles to ranks 

 of previous years and producing a characteristic scraggly complex of 

 branchlets. Twigs slightly sweetish if chewed; bark exuding a white 

 milk if cut on warm days or after being brought into a warm room. 

 LENTICELS scattered, similar in color to the twigs and hence incon- 

 spicuous. PITH light, rounded in cross-section. 



LEAF-SCARS Alternate, in 2 ranks, small, projecting, oval to de- 

 pressed circular. STIPULE-SCARS narrow, inconspicuous. BUNDLE- 

 SCARS conspicuous, 3-10 projecting above leaf-scar; irregularly 

 scattered. If leaf-scar is surface-sectioned leaf traces are reduced 

 to 3 in number. 



BUDS Terminal bud absent; lateral buds small, about 3 mm. long, 

 bright reddish-brown, roundish, generally about as broad as long, sharp 

 or blunt pointed, somewhat flattened against twigs, often set oblique 

 to the leaf-scar, 1 to 2 small collateral accessory buds sometimes 

 present. BUD-SCALES in 2 ranks, about 5 scales visible, increasing 

 in size from below upward, margins somewhat finely hairy. 



FRUIT A white, juicy, multiple fruit not to be found in winter. 



COMPARISONS The projecting bundle-scars are characteristic of 

 the Mulberries; for points of distinction from the Red Mulberry see 

 under this species. 



DISTRIBUTION Probably a native of China where its leaves have 

 from time immemorial furnished food for silkworms, introduced into 

 the United States and Canada from Ontario to Florida and naturalized 

 more or less throughout New England appearing by roadsides or along 

 fences and in waste places, being spread by birds which are very 

 fond of its fruit. 



IN CONNECTICUT Occasional; early in last century extensively 

 planted to furnish food for silkworms and many large trees remain 

 about farm houses. 



WOOD Moderately hard, close-grained, light yellowish-brown. 



