Morus alba L.
white mulberry
Moraceae (Mulberry family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
white mulberry
Moraceae (Mulberry family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Large shrub or small tree, 10-15 m tall; stems spreading, bark greyish.
Leaves:
Broadly egg-shaped to heart-shaped, 4-12 cm long, coarsely toothed to irregularly lobed.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of imperfect flowers in short cylindrical spikes; male spikes drooping, 10-25 mm long and loosely flowered; female spikes 10-15 mm long and crowded with flowers; calyces fleshy.
Fruits:
Achenes, white to pink, red, purple or blackish, covered by the fleshy calyces (blackberry-like), 1-2.5 cm long.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
USDA Species Characteristics
Flower Colour:
Green
Blooming Period:
Early Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Purple
Present from Spring to Summer
Source: The USDA
Habitat and Range
Moist to dry, disturbed areas in the steppe zone; rare in SC BC; introduced from Asia.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Morus alba var. multicaulis (Perr.) Loudon
Morus alba var. tatarica (L.) Ser.
Morus tatarica L.