MORACEÆ. 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.