4O2 Moracece Fiats. 



tacle. The genus Fwus constitutes the great bulk of this order ; 

 its species occurring in great abundance in the tropics. There 

 are about a dozen genera and 250 species, none of which are 

 indigenous in Europe. 



1. FlCUS. 



This large genus is represented by but one hardy species, 

 F. Cdrica, Common Fig, a native of Asia Minor. It is equally 

 deserving of cultivation for its ample and distinct foliage and 

 luscious fruit, though it appears to nourish nowhere so well 

 as in the chalky districts of the South of England. We ought 

 to mention the peculiar nature of the ' fruit,' which is a fleshy 

 hollow receptacle almost closed at the top, and including 

 .numerous crowded male and female flowers. Species of this 

 genus occur in all tropical countries, but they are especially 

 numerous in Asia. 



2. M5BUS. 



Small trees with large lobed or entire hispid lea\es and 

 fertile and sterile flowers in separate spikes. Perianth quadri- 

 partite. Stamens 4. Compound fruit formed of the 1-seeded 

 achenes covered by the fleshy persistent perianth. A genus of 

 few Asiatic and North American species. The name is from 

 yitopea, the Greek appellation of M. nlgra, the Mulberry. This 

 is supposed to be a native of Western Asia, and is the hand- 

 somest, hardiest, and most useful of the genus for planting in 

 this country. M. alba, a native of China, is the species so ex- 

 tensively cultivated in the South of Europe for supplying food 

 for silkworms, but it is too tender to withstand the severity of 

 our winters. M. rubra is a North American species of rather 

 larger stature than the preceding, occasionally attaining a height 

 of 70 or 80 feet, 



Broussonetia papyri/era, the Paper Mulberry, is a native of 

 China and Japan. It is a deciduous' tree closely resembling 

 the Common Mulberry, but readily distinguished, as it is 

 dioecious, and the male flowers are in longer drooping catkins. 

 The foliage is variable, according to the age and variety. 



Madura aurantlaca, Osage Orange or Bow-wood, is a large 

 deciduous tree in its native country, but is commonly grown 

 as a bush for forming hedges, for which it is well adapted, being 

 armed with stout spines. The flowers are inconspicuous, but 

 the fruit is from. 3 to 5 inches in diameter, and of a bright 

 golden yellow. 



