1. Winter buds. 2. Flowering branch. 3. Sterile flower. 4. Fertile flower. 5. Fruiting branch. MORACEAE. MULBERRY FAMILY. =Morus rubra, L.= MULBERRY. =Habitat and Range.=--Banks of rivers, rich woods. Canadian shore of Lake Erie. A rare tree in New England. Maine,--doubtfully reported; New Hampshire,--Pemigewasset valley, White mountains (Matthews); Vermont,--northern extremity of Lake Champlain, banks of the Connecticut (Flagg), Pownal (Oakes), North Pownal (Eggleston); Massachusetts,--rare; Rhode Island,--no station reported; Connecticut,--rare; Bristol, Plainville, North Guilford, East Rock and Norwich (J. N. Bishop). South to Florida; west to Michigan, South Dakota, and Texas. =Habit.=--A small tree, 15-25 feet in height, with a trunk diameter of 8-15 inches; attaining much greater dimensions in the Ohio and Mississippi basins; a wide-branching, rounded tree, characterized by a milky sap, rather dense foliage, and fruit closely resembling in shape that of the high blackberry. =Bark.=--Trunk light brown, rough, and more or less furrowed according to age; larger branches light greenish-brown; season's shoots gray and somewhat downy. =Winter Buds and Leaves.=--Buds ovate, obtuse. Leaves simple, alternate, 4-8 inches long, two-thirds as wide, rough above, yellowish-green and densely pubescent when young; at maturity dark green and downy beneath, turning yellow in autumn; conspicuously reticulated; outline variable, ovate, obovate, oblong or broadly oval, serrate-dentate with equal teeth, or irregularly 3-7-lobed; apex acuminate; base heart-shaped to truncate; stalk 1-2 inches long; stipules linear, serrate, soon falling. =Inflorescence.=--May. Appearing with the leaves from the season's shoots, in axillary spikes, sterile and fertile flowers sometimes on the same tree, sometimes on different trees,--sterile flowers in spreading or pendulous spikes, about 1 inch long; calyx 4-parted; petals none; stamens 4, the inflexed filaments of which suddenly straighten themselves as the flower expands: fertile spikes spreading or pendent; calyx 4-parted, becoming fleshy in fruit; ovary sessile; stigmas 2, spreading. =Fruit.=--July to August. In drooping spikes about 1 inch long and 1/2 inch in diameter; dark purplish-red, oblong, sweet and edible; apparently a simple fruit but really made up of the thickened calyx lobes of the spike. =Horticultural Value.=--Hardy in southern New England; grows rapidly in a good, moist soil in sun or shade; the large leaves start late and drop early; useful where it is hardy, in low tree plantations or as an undergrowth in woods; readily transplanted, but seldom offered for sale by nurserymen or collectors; propagated from seed. [Illustration: PLATE LII.--Morus rubra.] 1. Winter buds. 2. Branch with sterile flowers. 3. Sterile flower with stamens incurved. 4. Sterile flower expanded. 5. Branch with fertile flowers. 6. Fertile flower, side view. 7. Fruiting branch.