Morus spp.(Mulberry) created by Judy Parker Smith



image courtesy of California Rare Fruit Growers

• Order: Urticales
• Family: Moraceae

Members of the family, Moraceae, include fig, mulberry, and jackfruit. The family contains about 48 genera and 1200 species. The plants of this family have small, clustered, unisexual flowers. One of the most distinctive characteristics of the Moraceaes is the presence of milky sap containing latex. (Crosby, 1994) The leaves are alternate, often in 2 rows and simple. They may be without teeth, toothed, or lobed. The fruit is a drupe or achene, often multiple and fleshy. (Little, 1980)

Species List (Braco, 1995)

• Morus alba ( white mulberry)
• Morus autralis (Korean mulberry)
• Morus laevigata (Himalayan mulberry
• Morus microphylla (Texas mulberry)
• Morus nigra (black mulberry)
• Morus rubra ( red mulberry)

Identification Guide (Elias, 1980)

1. Leaves tapering to slightly heart-shaped at the base; trees native to eastern North America ---Red Mulberry
2. Leaves deeply heart-shaped at the base; foreign trees, planted or naturalized ---Black Mulberry

B. Leaves smooth above and usually beneath (the main veins may have scattered hairs).

1. Leaves 2-5 cm long; fruits red turning black at maturity; trees native to southwestern U.S. and Mexico---Texas mulberry
2. Leaves 6-16 cm long; fruits white or pink or purple; foreign trees, cultivated or naturalized---White mulberry

General Information

In Georgia, the only native tree species of the Moraceae family is Morus rubra L. , although several species have been introduced and naturalized. Mulberry wood is light and soft, but the heartwood is durable. Mulberry is sometimes planted for its edible fruit, but the fruit must be used locally, as it is very soft and cannot be shipped. The mulberry displays lovely autumn coloration, however, since it is generally short-lived, susceptible to breakage in wind and snow storms, and has messy fruit, it is not usually recognized as a desirable ornamental. (Brown, 1990)

click here for a brief description

click here for a more detailed summary

References

Benson, L., Plant Classification., D.C. Heath and Company, Boston. 1957. Library of Congress # 57-6313.

Brako, L., Farr, D.F., and Rossman,A.Y., Scientific and Common Names of 7,000 Vascular Plants in the United States. APS Press, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1995.

Brown, C.L., and Kirkman, L.K., Trees of Georgia and Adjacent States. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. 1990. ISBN# 088192-148-3.

Crosby, M.R., "Mulberry", Microsoft Encarta. Microsoft Corporation. Funk and Wagnalls Corporation. 1994.

Duncan, W.H., Guide to Georgia Trees. The University of Georgia Press, Athens. 1941.

Elias, T.S., The Complete Trees of North America Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York. 1980. ISBN# 0-442-23862-2.

Little, E.L., The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 1980. ISBN# 0-394-50760-6.

Patterson, R., "The Tree That Gets No Respect", American Forests, June 1984, v. 90, American Forestry Association, Washington, D.C. ISBN# 0002-8541.

Symonds, G.W.D., The Tree Identification Book. M.Barrows and Company, New York. 1958. Library of Congress # 58-5359.