296 WEEDS AND USEFUL TLANTS. 



fatuation was exliibited, throughout the United States, which bade 

 defiance to all the suggestions of reason and common sense. There was 

 a sort of Multicaiitis monomania (or Moro-mania !) — so universal, and 

 engrossing, that it became absolutely ludicrous ; and w^as scarcely ex- 

 ceeded in absurdity, by the nearly contemporaneous epidemic, which 

 afflicted the nation in reference to its financial concerns. Almost every 

 body was eagerly engaged in cultivating myriads of trees, to sell, — ■ 

 without stopping to enqirire where they could be sold, or who would 

 be likely to buy ! At some future day — and under different circum- 

 stances, — it is quite probable that a portion of our population will find 

 the Silk-culture an eligible business, and the Morus multicaulis a valua- 

 ble little tree. The European Black Mulberry, M. ni'gea, L., is some- 

 times cultivated. 



15. BROUSSONET'IA, VenL Paper Mulberry. 



[Dedicated to P. iV. V. Broussond, a Froncli Naturalist.] 



Flcwcrs dioecious. Staminate Fl. in an ament-like spike, bracteate. 

 Calyx 4-parted. Pistillate Fl., capitate, densely crowded on a glo- 

 bose receptacle, and mixed with hairy scales. CW//:c urceolate, 3- 4- 

 toothed. Ovary 1-celled, pedicellate ; style filiform, excentric, stigma- 

 tose on one side. Akene softly fleshy, elevated on the baccate pedicel, 

 which is surrounded at base by the calyx. 



1. B. papyrif'era. Vent. Leaves 

 scabrous above, pubescent beneath, 

 — those on the young branches lob- 

 ed, on the older ones mostly undivi- 

 ded, roundish-ovate or sub-cordate, 

 acuminate, serrate. 

 Paper-producing Broussoxetia. — 

 Paper Mulberry. 



Stef}yi 15-20 or 25 feet high, and 8-12 or 

 15 iuclics in diameter, with spreading bran- 

 ches, — the branches coated with a remark- 

 ably tough bark. Leaves 3-6 or 8 inches 

 long ; petioles 1-3 inches long. Staminate 

 spikes about 2 inches long, resembling loose 

 aments. Fistillatejlowers in a dense capitate 

 cluster. 



About houses : introduced. Native of 

 Japan and the South Sea Islands. Fl. May. 

 Fr. Sept. 



Ohs. This tree was introduced 

 some years since, as a shade-tree ; but is inferior to many others in beauty, 

 — and is now rarely planted for that purpose. The roots are so prolific 

 in suckers, as to be quite a nuisance, about yards and gardens. The 



Fig. 186. A branch of the Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), reduced, witb 

 fertile aments and variously lobed loaves 



