White MulberryMorus Alba L.

By: Rachel Finke

White MulberryClassification: (1)

Kingdom Plantae Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionte Vascular Plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta Seed Plants

Division Magnoliophyta Flowering Plants

Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons

Subclass Hamamelididae

Order Urticales

Family Moraceae Mulberry Family

Genus Morus L. Mulberry

Species Morus Alba L. White Mulberry

White Mulberry Shape, Form and Type The White Mulberry

rarely ever exceed 15 meters and are not smaller than 8 meters. The crown of this tree is very compacted. (2) Due to spreading branches, this tree has a very rounded crown. (3)

Figure 1

Bark of the White Mulberry

White Mulberry bark starts off as a smooth texture, but later becomes ridged. The bark is a lighter hue of brown. (3)

Figure 2

Twig and Bud of a White Mulberry Twigs on a White

Mulberry are the same color as the bark, light brown. (3) The twigs on these trees start off as hairy, then become smooth. (2)

Figure 3

White Mulberry Leaf The White Mulberry has

simple, light green leaves. They are alternate and are cordate at the base. Some leaves are unlobed, but leaves can also be almost palmate. (4) The top surface of these leaves are smooth with a present midrib. The margins are regularly serrate, and each leave is usually hairy. (2)

Flowers of the White Mulberry Male and Female flowers

can be produced on the same or on separate trees. Flowers are tiny, green clusters. (3) Males flowers are about 2.5 millimeters long, and female flowers can be anywhere from fifteen to twenty-five millimeters long. (2) The top picture is of a female flower, and the bottom of a male.

Figure 5

Figure 6

White Mulberry Fruit Fruit of this tree are black,

but often change through the ripening process from light purple to white. (4) These fruits are long, edible and are not produced until late spring. If you ate one, you would find it was very sweet and juicy.(3) Some people even dry out these fruits for use in the winter. (4)

Figure 7

Habitat, Range and Use of the White Mulberry You would not find a

White Mulberry in busy areas, like a city. These trees like dry, warm areas the most. White Mulberry trees can be found in the East and Pacific states of the United States. (3)

Figure 8

Uses of the White Mulberry Wood from the White Mulberry tree is

mainly used for furniture. The fruits are used as food for many people, and the leaves make a great type of animal food. (4)

Text Reference1. "PLANTS Profile for Morus alba (white mulberry) | USDA PLANTS." Welcome to the

PLANTS Database | USDA PLANTS. N.p., n.d. Web. Classification: Morus Alba L. 24 June 2010.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MOAL

2. " Morus alba L. - Encyclopedia of Life ." Encyclopedia of Life . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2010.

http://www.eol.org/pages/594885

3. Society, National Audubon. "Mulberry Family." National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees--E: Eastern Region (Eastern). Chanticleer Press Ed ed. New York: Knopf, 1980. 430-431. Print.

4. "Morus alba." FAO: FAO Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2010. http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/agpc/doc/gbase/data/pf000542.htm

5. "The World´s Tree Species: White Mulberry tree - Morus alba." The World´s Tree Species. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2010.

http://tree-species.blogspot.com/2008/09/white-mulberry-tree-morus-alba.html

Figure Classification1. White Mulberry. Full tree. June 24,2010.http://www.reduceyourwatercost.com/images/white-mulberry.jpg

2. White Mulberry. Bark. June 24,2010.http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oH7YVmRWh-s/SM1_5elEbiI/AAAAAAAAB2c/HOik7aTrXIM/s1600-h/Morus+alba+bark.jpg

3. "Local Nature." Local Nature. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2010. http://web.localnature.com/articles/backyardnature/twigs.html

4. White Mulberry. Leaf. June 24,2010.http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oH7YVmRWh-s/SM1_coa0mhI/AAAAAAAAB2E/bpg0ZwYHfeo/s1600-h/White+Mulberry+leaf.JPG

5. April 4,2007. Durham, NC. White Mulberry (Morus Alba) Detail of pistillate flowers. June 24,2010.

http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/moal.html

6. April 4,2007. White Mulberry (Morus Alba) Picture of male flower. June 24,2010.http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/moal.html

Figure Reference7. White Mulberry Fruit. June 24,2010.http://www.laddarboretum.org/images/trees/white%20mulberry_berry.jpg8. USDA. NRCS. Plants Profile. Morus

Alba L. White Mulberry. Distribution: Morus Alba L. June 24,2010.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MOAL