URTICACE^. (nettle FAMILY.) 897 



in pairs, peduncled, appearing with tlie leaves ; the lower usually staminata 

 only, in little fascicles or racemose along the base of the branches of the season. 

 (An ancient Greek name for the Lotus ; the fruit of the European Nettle-tree 

 is supposed to have been the food of the Latophagi.) 



1. C. OCCidentaliS, L. (Sugakbkbbt. Hackbbkbt.) Leaves retic- 

 ulated, ovate, cordate-ovate and ovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed, usually con- 

 spicuously and shai-ply so, more or less oblique at the base, glabrous, sharply 

 serrate, sometimes sparingly so, or soft-pubescent beneath, at least when young ; 

 fiuit on a peduncle from once to twice the length of the petiole, reddish or yel- 

 lowish, turning dark purple at maturity, its peduncle onco or twice the length 

 of the petiole. (Also C. Audibertiana, Spach., &c,) — Woods and river-banks, 

 S. New England to "Wisconsin and southward. April, May. — A small or 

 middle-sized tree, with the aspect of an Elm, with sweet and edible fruits as 

 Uir^o as bird-cherries, at first obovate, ripe in autumn ; the flesh thin. — Var. 

 pfTMiLA. Low and straggling (4° -10° high) ; leaves thin when mature, and 

 smooth, slightly acuminate. (C. pumila, PtirsA.) River-banks, on rocks, from 

 Maryland southward. — Var. CBASgiB6LiA. A tall or low tree ; leaves thick- 

 er, usually serrate all round, and with a long tapering point, dull above, pale 

 beneath. (C. crassifolia, Lam.) — Common southward and westward. — All 

 plainly of one species. 



2. C> ITIiSSiSSlppiensiS) Bosc. Leaves entire, very long taper-pointed, 

 rounded at the base, mostly oblique, thin, and siriooth; fruit small. (C. inte- 

 grifolia, Nait.) — W. Kentucky (and Illinois?) and southwestward. — Even this 

 probably runs into the last. . 



Suborder n. ARTOCABPEJE. Bkbad-fruit & Fia Family. 



4. MdBlJS, Tourn. Mulbekrt. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious ; the two kinds in separate axillary catkin- 

 like spikes. Calyx 4-parted, the sepals ovate. Stamens 4 ; filaments elastically 

 expanding. Ovary 2-celled, one of the cells smaller and disappearing ; styles 

 2, thread-form, stigmatic down the inside. Achenium ovate, compressed, cov- 

 ered by the succulent berry-like calyx, the whole fertile spike thus becoming a, 

 thickened oblong and juicy (edible) aggregate fruit. — Trees with milky juice 

 and rounded leaves : sterile spikes rather slender. {Mopia, the ancient name.) 



1. M. rilljra, L. (Red Mblbeeet.) Leaves heart-ovate, serrate, j-om^A 

 alMve, downy underneath, pointed (on young shoots often variously lobed) ; flow- 

 ers frequently dioecious ; fiuit dark purple. — Rich woods. New England to Illi- 

 nois and southward. May. — A small tree, ripening its sweetish blackberry- 

 like fruit in July. 



2. M. Alba, L. (White Mulberry.) Leaves obliquely heart-ovate, 

 acute serrate, sometimes lobed, smooth and shining ; fiuit whitish. — Spontaneous 

 near houses : introduced for feeding silk- worms. (Adv. from Eu.) 



M. NioKA, L., the Black Mulberry of Europe, is also occasionally cul 

 tivated. 



34 



