Handbook of Trees of the Noethekx States and Canada. 201 



Tlie Pajier Mulbevrj' is an introduced tree 

 from eastern Asia and the neighboring islands. 

 Introduced into this country for ornamental 

 purposes it has escaped and become naturalized 

 in nianj' localities in the Atlantic states from 

 New York to Florida and as far west as Mis- 

 souri. It does not often attain a greater 

 height than 40 or 50 ft. but develops a wide- 

 spreading rounded top of ample vigorous foli- 

 age and short trunk >3 or 4 ft. in thickness. 

 The bark of young trunks is quite smooth and 

 handsomely reticulated with pale yellow lines. 

 Old trunks commonly become singularly 

 gnarled and convoluted. The tree is called 

 Paper Mulberry from the fact that paper of 

 very good quality is made in China and- Japan 

 from its inner bark. The tapa-cloth which is 

 used extensively by the South Pacific Islanders 

 is also a product of this tree, being made from 

 the inner bark by maceration and pounding 

 to remove the non-fibrous portion. 



The wood is rather soft, light, coarse-grained 

 and easily worked, but of no commercial im- 

 portance in this country. 1 



Lcarca \isnally ovate. -S-S in. Inn^t, not lobed and 

 also (especia'iy on yonn^' plants) variously 8-5- 

 iobed or with single lobe on ont* side all forirs 

 commonly on the same tree, cordate or rounded 

 at base, acuminate, serrate-dentate, rough above, 

 velvety tomentose beneath, loner petiolate. 

 Ftowerff in middle spring-, staminate aments 

 peduncled. Fruit heads % in. across, with red 

 exserted fleshy perianth. ^ 



1. A. W., XI, 266. 



2. For genus see p. 4.3.3. 



