402 Moracce—Lficus. 
tacle. The genus Ficus 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. 2 
1. FICUS. 
This large genus is represented by but one hardy species, 
F. Carica, 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 flourish 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 uhey: are especially 
numerous in Asta. 
2. MORUS. 
Small trees with large lobed or entire hispid leaves 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 
popéa, the Greek appellation of A. nigra, 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. l/. 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. J/. ricbra isa North American species of rather 
larger stature than the preceding, occasionally attaining a height 
of 70 or 80 fect. 
Broussonetia papyrifera, 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 
dicecious, and the male flowers are in longer drooping catkins. 
The foliage is variable, according to the age and variety. 
Macliva aurantiaca, 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. 
