The _bark_ is rather thin, dark reddish-brown, peeling off in long
narrow flakes.
The _leaves_ are alternate, thin, rounded or somewhat heart-shaped,
toothed, pointed, 3 to 5 inches long, rough hairy above and soft hairy
beneath. Often some of the leaves, especially on the young trees and
thrifty shoots, are mitten-shaped or variously lobed.
The _flowers_ are of two kinds, on the same or different trees, in
drooping catkins. The catkins of the staminate flowers are about 2
inches long; the spikes of the pistillate flowers are about half as long
and stand on short stalks. The _fruit_ is dark red or black, and
resembles a blackberry; however, a stalk extends through it centrally,
and it is longer and narrower. The fruit is sweet and edible and greatly
relished by birds and various animals.
The _wood_ is rather light, soft, not strong, light orange-yellow, very
durable in contact with the soil. It is chiefly used for fence posts.
The tree might be planted for this purpose and to furnish food for
birds.
The white mulberry, _Morus alba_ L., is a native of China, where its
leaves are the chief food of the silkworm. Several varieties are
planted for ornamental purposes. Its leaves are broad and smooth; its
fruit is long, white, sweet, and insipid. A variety, under the name of
the Russian mulberry, _Morus alba_ var. _tatarica_ Loudon, has been
introduced into this country and has been cultivated for its fruit.
This fruit varies from creamy white to violet and almost black.
+CUCUMBER MAGNOLIA+ _Magnolia acuminata_ L.
THE cucumber magnolia attains an average height of 40 to 80 feet and a
diameter of 1 to 2 feet. It occurs singly among other hardwood trees
throughout the richer, cooler north slopes and bottom lands of southern
Illinois, in Union, Johnson, Pope, Alexander and Pulaski counties.
[Illustration: CUCUMBER MAGNOLIA