obovate; 5-11-lobed with coarse-toothed, bristle-tipped lobes tapering
from broad bases and wide, oblique, rounded sinuses; thin and firm; dull
dark green above, paler beneath; petioles stout, 1-2 inches long.
FLOWERS.--April-May, when the leaves are half grown; monoecious; the
staminate in hairy catkins 4-5 inches long; the pistillate on short,
glabrous peduncles; calyx 4-5-lobed, greenish; corolla 0; stamens 4-5,
with yellow anthers; stigmas long, spreading, bright green.
FRUIT.--Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup
shallow, saucer-shaped, inclosing only the base of the nut; scales
closely appressed, more or less glossy, puberulous, bright red-brown;
nut oblong-ovoid with a broad base, about 1 inch long, red-brown; kernel
white, very bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, light brown,
smooth.
BARK.--Twigs lustrous, green, becoming reddish, finally dark brown; young
trunks smooth, gray-brown; old trunks darker, shallowly fissured into
thin, firm, broad ridges; inner bark light red, not bitter.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, light red-brown, with thin,
darker colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Southern portion of Lower Peninsula as far north as
Roscommon County.
HABITAT.--Prefers rich, moist loam; glacial drift; stream-banks. Grows
well in all well-drained soils.
NOTES.--Grows rapidly. A good street tree.
[Illustration: +Pin Oak+
1. Winter twig, × 3.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.]
+FAGACEAE+
+Pin Oak+
_Quercus palustris Muench._
HABIT.--A medium-sized tree 40-50 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2
feet; forming an oblong or pyramidal crown of many upright, spreading
branches, the lowermost drooping nearly to the ground.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 4-6 inches long, 2-4 inches broad; obovate to
ovate; 5-7-lobed by deep, wide, rounded sinuses, the lobes few-toothed,
bristle-tipped; thin and firm; very lustrous, dark green above, paler
beneath; petioles slender.
FLOWERS.--May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in hairy
catkins 2-4 inches long; the pistillate tomentose, borne on short,
tomentose peduncles; calyx 4-5-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 4-5,
with yellow anthers; stigmas recurved, bright red.
FRUIT.--Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup
saucer-shaped with scales closely appressed, dark red-brown, inclosing
only the base of the nut; nut nearly hemi-spherical, about 1/2 inch in
diameter, light brown; kernel bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, ovoid or conical, acute, light
brown, smooth.
BARK.--Twigs dark red and tomentose at first, becoming lustrous, green,
finally gray-brown; thick, gray-brown and smoothish on the trunk.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, light brown, with thin,
darker colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Confined to the most southern portions of the Lower
Peninsula.
HABITAT.--Prefers moist, rich soil; river-bottoms; borders of swamps.
NOTES.--Grows rapidly and uniformly. Easily transplanted. The tiny
branchlets at a distance give the impression of the tree being full of
pins.
[Illustration: +Scarlet Oak+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.]
+FAGACEAE+
+Scarlet Oak+
_Quercus coccinea Muench._
HABIT.--A tree 40-50 feet high and 12-15 inches in trunk diameter; long,
slender branches form a rather open, rounded crown.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 3-6 inches long and nearly as broad; broadly
obovate to oval; 5-9-lobed by deep, wide, rounded sinuses, the lobes
toothed and bristle-tipped; thin and firm; shining, bright green above,
paler beneath, both sides glabrous; turning brilliant scarlet in autumn;
petioles slender, 1-2 inches long.
FLOWERS.--May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in glabrous
catkins 3-4 inches long; the pistillate on pubescent peduncles 1/2 inch
long, bright red, pubescent; calyx 4-5-lobed, reddish, pubescent;
corolla 0; stamens usually 4, with yellow anthers; stigmas long,
spreading, bright red.
FRUIT.--Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup
top-shaped to cup-shaped, with closely imbricated, slightly puberulous,
red-brown scales, inclosing about one-half of the nut; nut usually
short-ovoid, 1/2-3/4 inch long, light red-brown; kernel whitish, bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud about 1/4 inch long, broadly ovoid, acute,
dark red-brown, pale-pubescent above the middle.
BARK.--Twigs at first scurfy-pubescent, later lustrous, green, finally
smooth, light brown; thick, dark gray or brown on old trunks, shallowly
fissured, scaly; inner bark red, not bitter.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, light red-brown, with thick,
darker brown sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Lower Peninsula, southern half.
HABITAT.--Prefers a light, dry, sandy soil.
NOTES.--Rapid of growth. Desirable for ornamental planting.
[Illustration: +Hill's Oak. Northern Pin Oak. Black Oak+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.]
+FAGACEAE+
+Hill's Oak. Northern Pin Oak. Black Oak+
_Quercus ellipsoidalis E. J. Hill_
HABIT.--A tree 50-60 feet high, with a short trunk 2-3 feet in diameter;
forming a rather narrow, oblong crown of upright and horizontal
branches. Many small, drooping branches are sent out near the ground,
which eventually die; and it is to the stubs or pins which persist about
the trunk that the appelation Pin Oak is due.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 3-7 inches long and about as broad; oval to
nearly orbicular; narrowly 5-7-lobed by deep, wide, rounded sinuses, the
lobes few-toothed, bristle-tipped; thin and firm; lustrous, bright green
above, paler beneath, both sides glabrous except for the tufts of hairs
in the axils of the veins beneath; petioles slender, glabrous.
FLOWERS.--May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in puberulous
catkins 2-3 inches long; the pistillate red, tomentose, borne on stout,
tomentose, 1-3-flowered peduncles; calyx 2-5-lobed or-parted, glabrous
except at the apex, which is fringed with long, twisted hairs; corolla
0; stamens 2-5, with short filaments; stigmas 3, recurved, dark red.
FRUIT.--Autumn of second season; short-stalked or nearly sessile acorns;
cup top-shaped, with scales thin, puberulous, inclosing one-third to
one-half of the nut; nut ellipsoid, 1/2-3/4 inch long, light brown,
puberulous; kernel yellow, bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/8-1/4 inch long, ovoid, rather obtuse,
slightly angular, lustrous, red-brown.
BARK.--Twigs bright red-brown, covered with matted, pale hairs, becoming
glabrous, dark gray or brown; thin, dull gray to dark brown, rather
smooth or closely ribbed on the trunk; inner bark yellow.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, red-brown, with thin, paler
sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--South-western part of the Lower Peninsula, but limits not
definitely known.
HABITAT.--Well-drained uplands, especially on clays; occasionally on the
borders of ponds and in low woods.
NOTES.--A new and comparatively little known species.
[Illustration: +Yellow Oak. Black Oak+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flower, enlarged.
5. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.]
+FAGACEAE+
+Yellow Oak. Black Oak+
_Quercus velutina Lam._
HABIT.--A medium-sized tree 50-60 feet high and 1-3 feet in trunk
diameter; slender branches and stout branchlets form a wide-spreading,
rounded crown.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 5-10 inches long, 3-8 inches broad; ovate to
oblong; usually 7-lobed, some with shallow sinuses and broad, rounded,
mucronate lobes, others with wide, rounded sinuses extending half-way to
the midrib or farther and narrow-oblong or triangular, bristle-tipped
lobes, the lobes more or less coarse-toothed, each tooth bristle-tipped;
thick and leathery; dark green and shining above, pale and more or less
pubescent beneath; petioles stout, yellow, 3-6 inches long.
FLOWERS.--May, when the leaves are half grown; monoecious; the staminate
in pubescent catkins 4-6 inches long; the pistillate reddish, on short,
tomentose peduncles; calyx acutely 3-4-lobed, reddish, hairy; corolla 0;
stamens usually 4-5, with acute, yellow anthers; stigmas 3, divergent,
red.
FRUIT.--Autumn of second season; sessile or short-stalked acorns; cup
cup-shaped or turbinate, inclosing about one-half of the nut; scales
thin, light brown, hoary; nut ovoid, 1/2-3/4 inch long, red-brown, often
pubescent; kernel yellow, bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/4 inch long, ovoid to conical, obtuse,
strongly angled, hoary-tomentose.
BARK.--Twigs at first scurfy-pubescent, later glabrous, red-brown,
finally mottled gray; thick and nearly black on old trunks, deeply
furrowed and scaly; inner bark thick, yellow, very bitter.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, coarse-grained, bright red-brown, with thin,
paler sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Southern half of the Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.--Prefers glacial drift; dry or gravelly uplands; poor soils.
NOTES.--Rapid of growth. Undesirable for street use.
[Illustration: +Black Jack+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.]
+FAGACEAE+
+Black Jack+
_Quercus marilandica Muench._
HABIT.--A small, shrubby tree 20-30 feet high, with a trunk diameter of
6-14 inches; spreading, often contorted branches form a rounded or
obovoid crown.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 5-7 inches long and broad; broad-obovate;
more or less 3-lobed at the apex, the lobes entire or toothed,
bristle-tipped, very variable in size and shape; thick and leathery;
very lustrous and dark green above, yellowish and scurfy-pubescent
beneath; petioles short, stout.
FLOWERS.--May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in slender,
hoary catkins 2-4 inches long; the pistillate rusty-tomentose, on short,
rusty-tomentose peduncles; calyx 4-5-lobed, thin, scarious, tinged with
red, pale-pubescent; corolla 0; stamens 4, with apiculate, red anthers;
stigmas recurved, dark red.
FRUIT.--Autumn of second season; short-stalked acorns; cup turbinate,
with large, red-brown, rusty-tomentose scales, inclosing about one-half
of the nut; nut subglobose, about 3/4 inch long, yellow-brown,
puberulous; kernel yellowish.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, prominently
angled; scales light red-brown, rusty-hairy.
BARK.--Twigs at first light red and scurfy, later glabrous, red-brown,
and finally brown or ashy gray; thick and almost black on the trunk,
divided into nearly square plates.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, dark brown, with thick, lighter colored
sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Southern Michigan (Ann Arbor and Lansing).
HABITAT.--Dry, sandy or clay barrens.
NOTES.--Rare in Michigan.
[Illustration: +Shingle Oak+
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.]
+FAGACEAE+
+Shingle Oak+
_Quercus imbricaria Michx._
HABIT.--A tree 40-50 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet;
forming a rather open, rounded crown of slender, horizontal branches.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 4-6 inches long, 1-2 inches broad;
oblong-lanceolate to oblong-obovate; entire or somewhat undulate; thin,
very lustrous, dark green above, paler and pubescent beneath; petioles
stout, pubescent, 1/2 inch long.
FLOWERS.--May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in slender,
hoary-tomentose catkins 2-3 inches long; the pistillate on slender,
tomentose peduncles; calyx 4-lobed, yellow, downy; corolla 0; stamens
4-5, with yellow anthers; stigmas short, recurved, greenish yellow.
FRUIT.--Autumn of second season; acorns on stout peduncles 1/2 inch long;
cup cup-shaped, with red-brown, downy scales, inclosing one-third to
one-half of the nut; nut subglobose, about 1/2 inch long, dark brown,
often striate; kernel very bitter.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/8 inch long, ovoid, acute, lustrous, brown.
BARK.--Twigs lustrous, dark green, becoming brown; thick on old trunks,
light brown and slightly fissured.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, coarse-grained, light red-brown, with thin, lighter
colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Of rare occurrence in Michigan. Reported in Kalamazoo, St.
Joseph and Washtenaw Counties, Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.--Rich uplands; fertile river-bottoms.
NOTES.--Desirable for ornamental uses. Hardy. Rapid of growth.
+SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ULMUS+
a. Leaves essentially smooth on both sides; branches often
with corky, wing-like ridges; lowermost branches usually short
and strongly drooping; main trunk usually continuous into the
crown without dividing, giving to the tree a narrow-oblong
outline. _U. racemosa_, p. 129.
aa. Leaves usually rough on one or on both sides; branches
without corky ridges; lowermost branches not short, not
strongly drooping; main trunk usually dividing into several
large limbs, giving to the tree a more or less vase-shaped
outline.
b. Leaves usually rough above, but smooth beneath, with
petioles glabrous; bark of trunk gray, deeply fissured into
broad, scaly ridges; inner bark not mucilaginous. _U.
americana_, p. 127.
bb. Leaves usually rough both sides, with petioles hairy; bark
of trunk dark red-brown, shallowly fissured into large, loose
plates; inner bark mucilaginous. _U. fulva_, p. 125.
+WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF ULMUS+
a. Buds conspicuously rusty-tomentose; twigs more or less
pubescent; inner bark very mucilaginous when chewed. _U.
fulva_, p. 125.
aa. Buds not conspicuously rusty-tomentose; twigs glabrous;
inner bark not mucilaginous.
b. Bundle-scars usually 3; buds 1/8 inch long, glabrous; twigs
without corky ridges; outline of tree vase-shaped. _U.
americana_, p. 127.
bb. Bundle-scars usually 4-6 in a curved line; buds 1/4 inch
long, somewhat pilose; twigs often with corky ridges; outline
of tree narrow-oblong. _U. racemosa_, p. 129.
[Illustration: +Slippery Elm. Red Elm+
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1.
4. Perfect flower, enlarged.
5. Fruit, × 1.]
+URTICACEAE+
+Slippery Elm. Red Elm+
_Ulmus fulva Michx._ [_Ulmus pubescens Walt._]
HABIT.--A medium-sized tree 40-60 feet high, with a short trunk 1-2 feet
in diameter; spreading branches form a broad, open, flat-topped crown.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 4-7 inches long, about one-half as broad;
ovate-oblong; coarsely doubly serrate; thick and firm; dark green and
rough above, paler and somewhat rough beneath; petioles short, stout,
hairy.
FLOWERS.--March-April, before the leaves; mostly perfect; borne on short
pedicels in crowded fascicles; calyx campanulate, 5-9-lobed, green,
hairy; corolla 0; stamens 5-9, with dark red anthers; stigmas 2, reddish
purple.
FRUIT.--May; semi-orbicular, 1-seeded samaras, short-stalked in dense
clusters; seed cavity brown-tomentose; wings smooth, nearly 3/4 inch
long.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds ovoid, obtuse, dark
brown, rusty-tomentose, 1/4 inch long.
BARK.--Twigs at first bright green and pubescent, becoming light to dark
brown or grayish; thick on old trunks, dark red-brown, shallowly
fissured into large, loose plates; inner bark mucilaginous.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, very close-grained, durable, easy to split
while green, dark red-brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Of frequent occurrence throughout the state.
HABITAT.--Prefers stream-banks and bottom-lands; rich, moist hillsides;
rocky ridges and slopes.
NOTES.--Grows more rapidly than _U. americana_.
[Illustration: +White Elm. American Elm. Water Elm+
1. Winter twig, × 2.
2. Leaf, × 1/2.
3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
4. Flower, enlarged.
5. Fruit, × 2.]
+URTICACEAE+
+White Elm. American Elm. Water Elm+
_Ulmus americana L._
HABIT.--A tree 75-100 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-6 feet;
commonly dividing 20-30 feet above the ground into a few large branches
which rise upward and outward to form a vase-shaped outline.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 4-6 inches long, one-half as broad;
obovate-oblong to oval; coarsely doubly serrate; thick and firm; dark
green and rough above, pale and pubescent or glabrous beneath; petioles
short and stout.
FLOWERS.--March-April, before the leaves; mostly perfect; small, brown to
red; borne on slender pedicels in loose fascicles; calyx campanulate,
5-9-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 4-9, with bright red anthers; ovary
2-celled; styles 2, green.
FRUIT.--May; ovate, 1-seeded samaras, smooth both sides, hairy on the
margin, 1/2 inch long, long-stemmed in crowded clusters.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds ovoid, acute, flattened,
glabrous, brown, 1/8 inch long.
BARK.--Twigs at first light green and downy, becoming glabrous,
red-brown, finally ash-gray; on old trunks thick, ash-gray, deeply
fissured into broad, scaly ridges.
WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, tough, difficult to split, coarse-grained,
light brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Common throughout the state.
HABITAT.--Prefers deep, rich, moist loam; bottom-lands; stream-banks.
NOTES.--Grows rapidly. Long-lived. The roots run along near the surface
of the ground for a great distance. An ideal street tree.
[Illustration: +Cork Elm. Rock Elm+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1.
5. Flower, enlarged.
6. Fruit, × 1.]
+URTICACEAE+
+Cork Elm. Rock Elm+
_Ulmus racemosa Thomas_ [_Ulmus Thomasi Sarg._]
HABIT.--A large tree sometimes reaching a height of 100 feet and a trunk
diameter of 5 feet, but usually somewhat smaller; strongly drooping
lateral and lower branches form a narrow, oblong crown.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 3-6 inches long, one-half as broad; obovate
to oblong-oval, more or less dished; coarsely doubly serrate; thick and
firm; lustrous, dark green above, pale-pubescent beneath; petioles
pubescent, 1/4 inch long.
FLOWERS.--March-April, before the leaves; mostly perfect; greenish; borne
on slender, drooping pedicels in loose racemes; calyx campanulate,
7-8-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 7-8, with purple anthers; ovary hairy,
2-styled.
FRUIT.--May; ovate, 1-seeded samaras, pubescent all over, 1/2 inch long.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds ovoid, acute, brown,
pilose, 1/4 inch long.
BARK.--Twigs at first light brown and pubescent, becoming lustrous,
red-brown, finally gray-brown with corky, wing-like ridges; thick and
grayish on the trunk, with wide fissures separating broad, flat, scaly
ridges.
WOOD.--Heavy, very strong and tough, close-grained, light red-brown, with
thick, lighter colored sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Frequent in the southern third of the Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.--Dry, gravelly uplands; rocky ridges and slopes; heavy clay
soils; river-banks.
NOTES.--A good street tree, but less graceful in habit than _U.
americana_.
[Illustration: +Hackberry. Nettle-tree+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 3/4.
4. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
7. Fruit, × 1.]
+URTICACEAE+
+Hackberry. Nettle-tree+
_Celtis occidentalis L._
HABIT.--A medium-sized tree, 40-60 feet high, with a short, straight
trunk 1-2 feet in diameter which branches a few feet from the ground
into a few large limbs and many slender, horizontal, zigzag branches,
forming a broad, rounded crown.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 2-4 inches long and one-half as broad; ovate
to ovate-lanceolate, oblique at the base, usually long-pointed; coarsely
serrate above the entire base; thin; glabrous, light green above, paler
beneath, turning light yellow late in autumn; petioles short, slender,
hairy.
FLOWERS.--May, with or soon after the leaves; polygamo-monoecious;
greenish; inconspicuous; on slender pedicels; the staminate in clusters
at the base of the shoot, the pistillate usually solitary in the axils
of the upper leaves; calyx greenish, deeply 5-lobed; corolla 0; stamens
5; ovary 1-celled.
FRUIT.--September-October, remaining on the tree through the winter;
slender-stalked, fleshy, globular drupes, 1/4 inch long, dark purple;
edible.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds light brown, 1/4 inch
long, ovoid, acute, flattened, the tip appressed.
BARK.--Twigs greenish, puberulous, becoming lustrous, red-brown in their
first winter; on old trunks thick, light brown or silvery gray, broken
into deep, short ridges or warty excrescences.
WOOD.--Heavy, soft, coarse-grained, weak, light yellow, with thick,
whitish sapwood.
DISTRIBUTION.--Common throughout the Lower Peninsula.
HABITAT.--Prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil, but will grow on
gravelly or rocky hillsides. Common along river-banks.
NOTES.--Hardy throughout its range. Grows slowly and irregularly in
youth. Easily transplanted. Not desirable as a street tree, but appears
well in ornamental grounds. Very tolerant of shade.
[Illustration: +Osage Orange+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1/2.
4. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2.
7. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
8. Fruit, × 1/4.]
+URTICACEAE+
+Osage Orange+
_Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneider_ [_Toxylon pomiferum Raf._] [_Maclura
aurantiaca Nutt._]
HABIT.--A tree 20-30 feet high, with a short trunk 1-2 feet in diameter;
divides into a few large limbs with curving branches, forming a
symmetrical, rounded crown.
LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, 2-3 inches broad; ovate to
oblong-lanceolate; entire; thick and firm; dark green and shining above,
paler beneath; petioles slender, pubescent, 1-1/2-2 inches long.
FLOWERS.--June, after the leaves; dioecious; the staminate
slender-pedicelled, borne in a dense raceme at the end of long, slender,
drooping peduncles; the pistillate in dense, globose heads at the end of
short, stout peduncles; calyx 4-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 4;
style covered with white, stigmatic hairs.
FRUIT.--Autumn; pale green, orange-like, 4-5 inches in diameter, composed
of numerous small drupes, crowded and grown together.
WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds depressed-globular,
partly hidden in the bark, pale brown.
BARK.--Twigs at first bright green, pubescent, becoming orange-brown and
armed with stout, straight, axillary spines; dark orange-brown on the
trunk and deeply furrowed.
WOOD.--Heavy, very hard and strong, flexible, coarse-grained, very
durable, bright orange, with thin, lemon colored sapwood.
NOTES.--A native of the South, but hardy throughout Michigan. A desirable
ornamental tree. Extensively planted for hedges.
[Illustration: +Red Mulberry+
1. Winter twig, × 1.
2. Portion of twig, enlarged.
3. Leaf, × 1.
4. Spike of staminate flowers, × 1.
5. Staminate flower, enlarged.
6. Spike of pistillate flowers, × 1.
7. Pistillate flower, enlarged.
8. Fruit, × 1.]
+URTICACEAE+
+Red Mulberry+
_Morus rubra L._
HABIT.--A small tree 20-30 feet high, with a short trunk 10-15 inches in
diameter; forming a dense, round-topped crown of stout, spreading
branches and more or less zigzag, slender branchlets.