of New York 



81 



RED MULBERRY 



Morus rubra, Linnaeus 



The Red Mulberry, also known as Black Mulberry and 

 more frequently called "Mulberry," came in the limelight 

 in the early days of American history. The early pioneers 

 were inspired with the false hope that it was a new source of 

 food for the silkworm. The outcome was altogether disap- 

 pointing. 



The leaves are simple, 

 alternate, 3 to 5 inches 

 long, roundish, short- 

 tipped, deep green and 

 with deeply sunken veins 

 on upper surface. Some 

 leaves are lobed and resem- 

 ble an ordinary mitten. 

 The leaf-stalks give a 

 milky secretion upon be- 

 ing squeezed. 



The flowers are of two 

 kinds. Pollen-bearing and 

 seed - producing occur in 

 short drooping tassels. 



The fruit is a soft, 

 fleshy, dark red to black 

 aggregation of many-seed- 

 ed berries. They are sweet, 

 man, birds, and various other animals. 



The bark is rather thin, dark, grayish-brown, begins to 

 roughen about the third year, peels off in thin scales. The 

 twigs are smooth, clean, light greenish-brown, and bear oval, 

 hollowed-out leaf-scars dotted with numerous bundle-scars. 

 The bowl-shaped leaf-scars are helpful in recognizing this 

 tree in winter. 



The wood is soft, light, not strong, orange yellow to 

 brown. It is durable in contact with soil, and used chiefly 

 for fence posts. 



The Red Mulberry rarely exceeds 50 feet in height and 2 

 feet in diameter. It grows from Massachusetts west to Kan- 

 sas and south to Texas and Florida. It is rather common 

 across the southern part of New York, becoming rare north- 

 ward to Albany, Oneida and Niagara counties. Rich moist 

 soil of valleys and foothills is its favorite home. The tree 

 should be protected to insure a food supply for birds. 



RED MULBERRY 



One-fourth natural size. 



Twig section, natural size. Leaf-scar 



enlarged. 



juicy, and greatly relished by 



