296 



AVEEDS A?sD USEFUL PLANTS. 



fatuation was exhibited, througliout the United States, which bade 

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

 a sort of Mult 7 caul is monomania [ov Moro-mania l) — so universal, and 

 engrossing, that it became absolutely ludicrous ; and was scarcely ex- 

 ceeded in absurdity, by the nearly contemporaneous epidemic, w^hich 

 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 enquire 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 muUkaulis a valua- 

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

 times cultivated. 



15. BROUSSONE'TIA, Vent. Paper Mulberry. 



[Dedicated to P. N. V. Broussond, a French Naturalist.] 



Flowers 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. Calyx 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 Broussonetia. — 

 Paper Mulberry. 



Skm 15-20 or 25 feet high, and 8-12 or 

 15 inches 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. Pistillate flowers in a dense capitate 

 cluster. 



About houses : introduced. Native of 

 Japan and the South Sea Islands. Fl. May. 

 Fr. Sept. 



Obs. 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 papyrifent), reduced, with 

 fertile aments and variously lobed leaves 



