Mulberry, White mulberry
Morus alba

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A small tree up to 9 m high but it can grow to 20 m tall. Often it is low and spreading. It has dark green toothed leaves. The leaves vary considerably in shape even on the one tree. They can be oval, heart shaped or 3 lobed and 5-15 cm long. The tip is pointed and the leaf is on a stalk 5 cm long. The upper surface is smooth but there can be some hairs on the veins underneath. Male and female flowers occur separately either on the same or separate plants. The flowers are greenish and in spikes which droop down. The fruit is a dark red or black berry but pale kinds also occur. The fruit is about 2 cm long.

There are about 13 Morus species. They grow in temperate areas and in mountains in the tropics. Chemical composition (leaves): Ash = 10% (very rich in lime). Small amount of Vitamin C. Much carbohydrate. Also contains tannin, carotene, fat, and nitrogenous matter.

Where it is found

It is native to N. China. A warm temperate plant. The white mulberry (Morus alba ) is normally used for silk worms and the black mulberry suits more highland regions. The normal range is 700 to 2200 m altitude in the tropics. In India it grows to 3,300 m altitude. Once established it can tolerate heat and drought. Hobart Botanical Gardens. It is winter hardy and can tolerate salt. It can grow in arid places. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. It suits hardiness zones 4-10. Arboretum Tasmania. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Manchuria, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sahel, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Serbia, Sikkim, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten raw or used in juice, stews and tarts. The fruit can be dried and stored. The fruit can be processed for vinegar or wine. The leaves are edible. They can be put in stews. The leaves can be used for tea. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. (Leaves are also used for silk worms.) The bark can be roasted and ground into a flour. The tree also yields an edible manna. NOTEThe stain from the fruit can be removed by rubbing with an unripe fruit.

Trees moderately common in most highland areas of Papua New Guinea for fruit and leaves. (Also cultivated for silkworms.) The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is sold in local markets in China. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, flowers, bark, leaves - tea, manna, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed but seed are slow to germinate. If seed are used they should be soaked in cold water for 48 hours. Trees from seeds take a long time to bear. It is better to grow trees from cuttings. Trees can also be grown by grafting. Because trees "bleed" it is best not to do too much pruning but trees can be topped or trained.

Cuttings produce fruit in 3 years while it takes 5-8 years for seedling trees. Fruit is produced seasonally. The fruit season is normally September to December in the southern hemisphere.

Its other names

Local names

Ahairi, Akdut, Ambat, Amingit, Amoras, Amore, Bebesaran, Bela murva, Beseran, Bijela murva, Bolopi, Boowili go'ra, Chedi, Chernitsa, Chinni, Dara tu, Dau tam, Duda, Dut, Gelso, Hipnerle, Huhreshiibu, Injor, Injori, Kambli, Keemu, Kheloshi, Khragu, Kilika, Kimbu, Kuwa, Lampung, Latek schein, Lmarchiq, Makaloshi, Mang men, Meng shou nan yang, Mforosadi, Mforsadi, Mfurusadi, Moerbei, Mon thom, Mora, Mora blanca, Moras, Morera, Morubeila, Murbei, Mushongo, Musukette, Nkenene, Odi, Paruka, Pippalipandu chettu, Posa, Ppongnamu, Reshme chattu, Sahtoot, Sang chui, Sang guo, Sang, Sau tam, Sems-ling-shing, Shahtut, Shatoot, Shetur, Shuo zi a bu, Siah tut, Sicameno aspro, Speenteet, Spen thooth, Spin toot, Thingteim, Thingteimi, Toot, Tu, Tuik, Tul, Tula, Tunt phal, Tut, Tuta, Tutphal, Tuti, Tuticoli, Tuto, Tutri, Tuuyspii, Tuye, Voaroihazo

Synonyms

Morus alba var. tatarica (L.) Ser.; Morus byzantina Sieber ex Steudel; Morus constantinopolitina Hort. ex Poir; Morus sylvestris Forsskal; Morus tatarica L.; Morus intermedia Perr.; Morus bombycis;