Korean mulberry, Small-leaved mulberry
Morus australis

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 3-6 m high. It loses its leaves during the year. The bark is greyish brown. The winter buds are large. In cultivation plants are 1-2 m high. The leaves have stalks. The stalks are 1-1.5 cm long. The leaves are oval to sword shaped. They taper to the tip. They are 5-14 cm long by 3.5-12 cm wide. They have 3-5 lobes. There are teeth around the edge. Flowers are of one sex. They are yellow. The fruit are red but turn almost black near maturity. They are about 1 cm across. Some varieties are described which vary on the shape of the leaves.

There are about 16 Morus species.

Where it is found

It is native to temperate SE Asia. In Nepal plants grow between 900-2400 m altitude. In China it grows in limestone areas and near the edges of forests on mountain slopes between 500-2000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 6-9. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Central America, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Europe, Fiji, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Kurdistan, Laos, Madagascar, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, SE Asia, Sikkim, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Türkiye, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. They are also used for wine.

The fruit are enjoyed by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or root offshoots. The can also be grown from cuttings.

In NE India fruit are available January and February.

Its other names

Local names

Aino mulberry, Anazina, Buah beri, Chinese mulberry, Dusibielu, Gongar taisib, Hippinerale, Inglet, Ji sang, Kaimu, Kimbu, Kimu, Kuwa, Latak, Latek, Lungli, Mbun chi, Mon toch, Mountain mullberry, Sano kimbu, Sanppongnamu, Sanukimbu, Shahtut, Tesma-ni, Thaimou, Thing thaimei, Turep-ni, Tut, Unryu mulberry, Ye sang shen, Ye sang zi

Synonyms

Morus indica L.; Morus acidosa Griffith; Morus alba Linnaeus var. indica Bureau; Morus alba var. nigriformis Bureau; Morus alba var. stylosa Bureau; Morus australis var. hastifolia (F. T. Wang & T. Tang ex Z. Y. Cao) Z. Y. Cao; Morus australis var. incisa C. Y. Wu; Morus australis var. inusitata (H. Léveillé) C. Y. Wu; Morus australis var. linearipartita Z. Y. Cao; Morus australis var. oblongifolia Z. Y. Cao; Morus bombycis Koidzumi; Morus bombycis var. angustifolia Koidzumi; Morus bombycis var. bifida Koidzumi; Morus bombycis var. longistyla Koidzumi; Morus bombycis var. tiliifolia Koidzumi; Morus cavaleriei H. Léveillé; Morus formosensis Hotta; Morus hastifolia F. T. Wang & T. Tang ex Z. Y. Cao; Morus inusitata H. Léveillé; Morus longistyla Diels; Morus nigriformis (Bureau) Koidzumi; Morus stylosa Seringe var. ovalifolia Seringe;