244 



URTICACE^. 



MORUS.— MiiLHRnRY. 



Morus rubra Linn(''. — Jlcd Mulherrii. 



Description.— YlowevH mouax-iouH or dioecious. Staminate flowers in 

 drooping axillary spikes ; ealyx 4-parted ; stamens 4. Pistillate flowers 

 in dense, ovate, erect spik(>s ; calyx of 4 sepals ; ovary 2-cellc'd, one of the 

 cells disappearing during the develoi)ment of the fruit ; styles 2, liliforin. 

 When ripc! each ovary is an achoniuni covered by the succulent calyx, the 

 whole fertile spike becoming a dark-purple, juicy fruit resembling a black- 

 berry. 



A small tree 20 to 30 feet high. Leaves alternate, ovate, cordate, 

 pointed, serrate, rough above, downy beneath ; those of the young shoots 

 sometimes 2- to 3-lobed. The flowers appear in May ; the berries are ripe 

 in July ; they are about an inch long, and have an agreeable sweetish and 

 acidulous taste. 



Ilabiiat. — Li rich woods from New England to Illinois and soutlnvanl. 



Part. /«v/.— The fruit- 

 not official. 



Constituents. — G 1 u c o s e, 

 free acid, and nuicilaginous 

 matter. 



IM'parations. — Commonly 

 used in the form of a s^-rup 

 or exjiressed juice. 



jMcdica/ Proprrlies and 

 Uses. — -Mulberries are slight- 

 ly laxative, and their mildly 

 acid properties render them 

 cooling and refreshing. They 

 are chiefly employed in the 

 preparation of refrigerant 

 (liinks in acute febrile and 

 inflammatory affections. 



URTIOA.— Nettle. 



Charnctcr of thr. Genus. — 

 Flowers niouceciousor difjeci- 

 ous, in axilLu-y clusters or 

 si)ike.s. Stamhiate flowers ; 

 stamens 4, inserted around the rudiment of a pistil. Pistillate flowers ; 

 sepals 4, in pairs, the outer pair smaller, spreading, the inner, in fruit, en- 

 closing the achenium. 



Annual or perennial herbs, with stinging hairs. Leaves opposite, stip- 

 ulate. Flowers greenish. 



Fio. 153.— LTrUca diolca. 



