Part 44

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.

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.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, nearly as broad; outline variable, ovate to semi-orbicular, often 3-5-lobed; coarsely serrate; thin; dark blue-green and smooth or rough above, pale and more or less downy beneath; petioles 1-2 inches long, smooth, exuding a milky juice when cut.

FLOWERS.--May, with the leaves; monoecious or dioecious; the staminate in dense spikes 1-2 inches long, on short, hairy peduncles; the pistillate in dense spikes about 1 inch long, on short, hairy peduncles; calyx 4-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 4, with green anthers; stigmas 2, spreading.

FRUIT.--July; 1 inch long; consisting of drupes about 1/32 inch long, each inclosed in a thickened, fleshy calyx; berry-like; bright red at first, finally blackish; sweet, juicy, edible.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds ovoid, abruptly pointed, 1/4 inch long, lustrous, light brown.

BARK.--Twigs greenish and more or less downy, becoming smooth and brownish; trunk dark brown tinged with red and more or less furrowed.

WOOD.--Light, soft, weak, rather tough, coarse-grained, very durable, pale orange, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Southern portion of the Lower Peninsula, as far north as the Muskegon river.

HABITAT.--Prefers rich soil in river-bottoms.

NOTES.--Easily transplanted. Grows rapidly in good, moist soil.

1. Winter twig, × 1. 2. Leaf, × 1/2. 3. Flowering branchlet, × 1/2. 4. Fruit (opened and partly disseminated), × 1/2.]

+MAGNOLIACEAE+

+Tulip Poplar. Tulip-tree. White-wood+

Liriodendron tulipifera L.

HABIT.--A large tree 70-100 feet high, with a columnar trunk 2-5 feet in diameter; forming a rather open, conical crown of slender branches.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 5-6 inches long and broad; 4-lobed; entire; lustrous, dark green above, pale or glaucous beneath, turning clear yellow in autumn; petioles slender, angled, 5-6 inches long.

FLOWERS.--May-June, after the leaves; perfect; terminal; solitary on stout peduncles; tulip-shaped, greenish yellow, 1-1/2-2 inches long; sepals 3, greenish, early deciduous; petals 6, in 2 rows, greenish yellow with an orange spot at the base, early deciduous; stamens numerous, somewhat shorter than the petals; pistils numerous, clinging together about a central axis; ovary 1-celled.

FRUIT.--September-October; a narrow, light brown cone 2-1/2-3 inches long, composed of numerous carpels; carpels long, flat, with a 1-2-seeded nutlet at the base, separating from the slender spindle at maturity.