The _bark_ is grayish and generally rough with scale-like or warty
projections of dead bark. In some instances the bark is smooth enough on
the limbs to resemble that of the beech.
The _leaves_ are simple, ovate, alternate, one-sided, 2 to 4 inches
long, the edges toothed towards the long point.
The _flowers_ are inconspicuous, and the two kinds are borne on the same
tree. They appear in April or May, and are of a creamy, greenish color.
The _fruit_ is a round, somewhat oblong drupe, or berry, from 1/4 to 1/3
of an inch in diameter. It has a thin, purplish skin, and sweet,
yellowish flesh. From this characteristic it is sometimes called
sugarberry. The berries frequently hang on the tree most of the winter.
The _wood_ is heavy, rather soft, weak, and decays readily when exposed.
It is used chiefly for fuel, but occasionally for lumber and railroad
ties which are given preservative treatment.
The southern hackberry, _Celtis leavigata_ Willd., having narrow
leaves, is found occasionally along the streams in southern Illinois.
The fruit hangs from the axils of the leaves on slender stems. It is
orange-red in color, changing to purple-black as it matures.
+OSAGE ORANGE+ _Maclura pomifera_ Schneid.
THE osage orange, hedge apple, or mock orange, although not a native of
Illinois, is found distributed throughout the State, but does not as a
rule occur as a forest tree. It grows chiefly in open fields along fence
rows, and as a pure hedge fence. Occasionally it reaches a height of 60
feet and a diameter of 30 inches, but more usually it is found from 20
to 40 feet in height and from 4 to 12 inches in diameter. This tree is
sometimes used for shade, but mostly for hedges, and as living fence
posts. The _bark_ is thin, gray, sometimes tinged with yellow, and on
old trees divided into strips or flakes. The bark of the root is used as
a yellow dye; that of the trunk has been used for tanning leather.
[Illustration: OSAGE ORANGE
Leaf and fruit, one-quarter natural size. Twig, two-thirds natural
size.]
The _leaves_ are deciduous, with milky sap and producing stout axillary
thorns. They are green on the upper surface, 3 to 5 inches long and 2 to
3 inches wide, and turn bright yellow in the autumn.
The yellowish _flowers_ appear in May. They are of two kinds on the same
tree--the staminate flowers in a linear cluster and the pistillate
flowers in a rounded ball. The _fruit_ is globular, from 2 to 5 inches
in diameter, somewhat resembling a very rough green orange.
The _wood_ is heavy, exceedingly hard, very strong and very durable in
contact with the soil. The heartwood is bright orange in color, turning
brown upon exposure. The Indians called it "bois d'arc", or bow-wood,
and used it for their finest bows. It does not shrink with weather
changes. It is largely used for posts; sometimes for wheel-stock, lumber
and fuel.
+RED MULBERRY+ _Morus rubra_ L.
THE red mulberry occurs throughout the State. It prefers the rich, moist
soils of the lower and middle districts, but it is nowhere abundant. It
is a small tree, rarely 50 feet high and 2 feet in diameter, often
growing in the shade of larger trees.
[Illustration: RED MULBERRY