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{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Mulberry
| image = Mulberry larger.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Ripe mulberry on tree
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| phylum = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Moraceae]]
| genus = '''''Morus'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text.
}}
'''Mulberry''' ('''''Morus''''') is a genus of 10–16 species of [[deciduous]] [[tree]]s native to warm temperate and subtropical regions of [[Asia]], [[Africa]] and [[North America]], with the majority of the species native to [[Asia]].
The closely related genus ''[[Broussonetia]]'' is also commonly known as mulberry, notably the [[Paper Mulberry]] ''Broussonetia papyrifera''.
Mulberries are fast-growing when young, but soon become slow-growing and rarely exceed 10-15 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternately arranged, simple, often lobed, more often lobed on juvenile shoots than on mature trees, and serrated on the margin. The [[fruit]] is a [[Fruit#Multiple fruit|multiple fruit]], 2-3 cm long, red ripening to dark purple, edible, and sweet with a good flavour in several species.
==Species==
The taxonomy of ''Morus'' is complex and disputed. Over 150 species names have been published, but only 10-16 are generally cited as being accepted, though different sources cite ''different'' selections of accepted names. The classification is also complicated by widespread [[hybrid]]isation, with the hybrids being fertile.
The following species are generally accepted:
*''Morus alba'' ([[White Mulberry]]; eastern Asia)
*''Morus australis'' ([[Morus australis|Chinese Mulberry]]; southeastern Asia)
*''Morus mesozygia'' ([[African Mulberry]]; southern and central Africa)
*''Morus microphylla'' ([[Texas Mulberry]]; south central North America: Texas, Mexico)
*''Morus nigra'' ([[Black Mulberry]]; southwest Asia)
*''Morus rubra'' ([[Red Mulberry]]; eastern North America)
The following, all from eastern and southern Asia, are additionally accepted by one or more taxonomic lists or studies; [[synonymy]] as given by other lists or studies is indicated in brackets:
*''Morus atropurpurea''
*''Morus bombycis'' (''M. australis'')
*''Morus cathayana''
*''Morus indica'' (''M. alba'')
*''Morus japonica'' (''M. alba'')
*''Morus kagayamae'' (''M. australis'')
*''Morus laevigata'' (''M. alba'' var. ''laevigata, M. macroura'')
*''Morus latifolia'' (''M. alba'')
*''Morus liboensis''
*''Morus macroura'' (''M. alba'' var. ''laevigata'')
*''Morus mongolica'' (''M. alba'' var. ''mongolica'')
*''Morus multicaulis'' (''M. alba'')
*''Morus notabilis''
*''Morus rotundiloba''
*''Morus serrata'' ([[Himalayan Mulberry]]; ''M. alba'' var. ''serrata'')
*''Morus tillaefolia''
*''Morus trilobata'' (''M. australis'' var. trilobata'')
*''Morus wittiorum''
==Uses and cultivation==
The fruit is edible and is widely used in pies, tarts, wines and cordials. The fruit of the Black Mulberry, native to southwest Asia, and the Red Mulberry, native to eastern North America, have the strongest flavour. The fruit of the White Mulberry, an east Asian species which is extensively naturalised in urban regions of eastern North America has a different flavour, sometimes characterised as insipid. The mature fruit contains significant amounts of [[resveratrol]].
Black, red and white Mulberry are widespread in Northern [[India]] and [[Pakistan]], where the tree and the fruit are known by the [[Persian]]-derived names ''Toot'' (Mulberry) or ''Shehtoot'' (Royal or "Superior" Mulberry). [[Jam]]s and [[sherbet]]s are often made from the fruit in this region.
Mulberry [[leaf|leaves]], particularly those of the White Mulberry[Check: maybe the black ones instead?], are also economically important as the sole food source of the [[silkworm]], the [[Pupa#Cocoon|cocoon]] of which is used to make [[silk]]. Other [[Lepidoptera]] [[larva]]e also sometimes feed on the plant including [[Common Emerald]], [[Mimas tiliae|Lime Hawk-moth]] and [[Sycamore (mot
h)|The Sycamore]].
Mulberries can be grown from seed, and this is often advised as seedling-grown trees are generally of better shape and health. However, they are most often planted from large cuttings, which take root readily.
==Mythology==
A Greek myth about [[Pyramus and Thisbe]] explains the color of the plants.
==References and external links==
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=121220 Flora of China: ''Morus'']
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=121220 Flora of North America: ''Morus'']
*[http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Morus.html University of Melbourne: Sorting ''Morus'' names]
*[http://www.museums.org.za/bio/plants/moraceae/ Museum of Cape Town: Moraceae]
*Zhao Weiguo, Pan Yile, Zhang Zhifang Jia Shihai, Miao Xuexia & Huang Yongping. 2005. Phylogeny of the genus Morus. ''African Journal of Biotechnology'' 4 (6): 563-569 [http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB/PDF/Pdf2005/Jun/Weiguo%20et%20al.pdf Online (pdf file)]
[[Category:Moraceae]]
[[Category:Fruit]]
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Mulberry
| image = Mulberry larger.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Ripe mulberry on tree
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| phylum = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Moraceae]]
| genus = '''''Morus'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text.
}}
'''Mulberry''' ('''''Morus''''') is a genus of 10–16 species of [[deciduous]] [[tree]]s native to warm temperate and subtropical regions of [[Asia]], [[Africa]] and [[North America]], with the majority of the species native to [[Asia]].
The closely related genus ''[[Broussonetia]]'' is also commonly known as mulberry, notably the [[Paper Mulberry]] ''Broussonetia papyrifera''.
Mulberries are fast-growing when young, but soon become slow-growing and rarely exceed 10-15 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternately arranged, simple, often lobed, more often lobed on juvenile shoots than on mature trees, and serrated on the margin. The [[fruit]] is a [[Fruit#Multiple fruit|multiple fruit]], 2-3 cm long, red ripening to dark purple, edible, and sweet with a good flavour in several species.
==Species==
The taxonomy of ''Morus'' is complex and disputed. Over 150 species names have been published, but only 10-16 are generally cited as being accepted, though different sources cite ''different'' selections of accepted names. The classification is also complicated by widespread [[hybrid]]isation, with the hybrids being fertile.
The following species are generally accepted:
*''Morus alba'' ([[White Mulberry]]; eastern Asia)
*''Morus australis'' ([[Morus australis|Chinese Mulberry]]; southeastern Asia)
*''Morus mesozygia'' ([[African Mulberry]]; southern and central Africa)
*''Morus microphylla'' ([[Texas Mulberry]]; south central North America: Texas, Mexico)
*''Morus nigra'' ([[Black Mulberry]]; southwest Asia)
*''Morus rubra'' ([[Red Mulberry]]; eastern North America)
The following, all from eastern and southern Asia, are additionally accepted by one or more taxonomic lists or studies; [[synonymy]] as given by other lists or studies is indicated in brackets:
*''Morus atropurpurea''
*''Morus bombycis'' (''M. australis'')
*''Morus cathayana''
*''Morus indica'' (''M. alba'')
*''Morus japonica'' (''M. alba'')
*''Morus kagayamae'' (''M. australis'')
*''Morus laevigata'' (''M. alba'' var. ''laevigata, M. macroura'')
*''Morus latifolia'' (''M. alba'')
*''Morus liboensis''
*''Morus macroura'' (''M. alba'' var. ''laevigata'')
*''Morus mongolica'' (''M. alba'' var. ''mongolica'')
*''Morus multicaulis'' (''M. alba'')
*''Morus notabilis''
*''Morus rotundiloba''
*''Morus serrata'' ([[Himalayan Mulberry]]; ''M. alba'' var. ''serrata'')
*''Morus tillaefolia''
*''Morus trilobata'' (''M. australis'' var. trilobata'')
*''Morus wittiorum''
==Uses and cultivation==
The fruit is edible and is widely used in pies, tarts, wines and cordials. The fruit of the Black Mulberry, native to southwest Asia, and the Red Mulberry, native to eastern North America, have the strongest flavour. The fruit of the White Mulberry, an east Asian species which is extensively naturalised in urban regions of eastern North America has a different flavour, sometimes characterised as insipid. The mature fruit contains significant amounts of [[resveratrol]].
Black, red and white Mulberry are widespread in Northern [[India]] and [[Pakistan]], where the tree and the fruit are known by the [[Persian]]-derived names ''Toot'' (Mulberry) or ''Shehtoot'' (Royal or "Superior" Mulberry). [[Jam]]s and [[sherbet]]s are often made from the fruit in this region.
Mulberry [[leaf|leaves]], particularly those of the White Mulberry[Check: maybe the black ones instead?], are also economically important as the sole food source of the [[silkworm]], the [[Pupa#Cocoon|cocoon]] of which is used to make [[silk]]. Other [[Lepidoptera]] [[larva]]e also sometimes feed on the plant including [[Common Emerald]], [[Mimas tiliae|Lime Hawk-moth]] and [[Sycamore (mot
h)|The Sycamore]].
Mulberries can be grown from seed, and this is often advised as seedling-grown trees are generally of better shape and health. However, they are most often planted from large cuttings, which take root readily.
==Mythology==
A Greek myth about [[Pyramus and Thisbe]] explains the color of the plants.
==References and external links==
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=121220 Flora of China: ''Morus'']
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=121220 Flora of North America: ''Morus'']
*[http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Morus.html University of Melbourne: Sorting ''Morus'' names]
*[http://www.museums.org.za/bio/plants/moraceae/ Museum of Cape Town: Moraceae]
*Zhao Weiguo, Pan Yile, Zhang Zhifang Jia Shihai, Miao Xuexia & Huang Yongping. 2005. Phylogeny of the genus Morus. ''African Journal of Biotechnology'' 4 (6): 563-569 [http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB/PDF/Pdf2005/Jun/Weiguo%20et%20al.pdf Online (pdf file)]
[[Category:Moraceae]]
[[Category:Fruit]]
