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Morus alba

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Rosales Family: Moraceae Genus: Morus

mulberry, white mulberry

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrubs or small trees up to 7 m tall, in cultivation sometimes larger.

Stems: Branches pubescent when young, soon glabrate.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades narrowly to broadly ovate, 5–18 cm long, 2–10 cm wide. Apex acute to acuminate. Base rounded to cordate. Surfaces sparsely pubescent at least on lower surfaces along principal veins. Margins coarsely serrate. Petioles 1–3 cm long. Stipules lanceolate, deciduous.

Flowers: Flowers in axillary, pedunculate, pendulous spikes; staminate spikes 10–20 mm long; pistillate spikes 5–10 mm long. Flowers small, unisexual, actinomorphic. Calyx of 4 sepals, connate at base, in fruit becoming thickened, fleshy, enveloping the drupe, the sepals of adjacent flowers joined into a syncarp. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 4, absent in pistillate flowers; filaments inflexed in bud. Ovary superior, 2-celled, only 1 cell developing, pistillode present in staminate flowers; style deeply 2-lobed.

Fruit: Syncarps white; pinkish; or purple; 1–2.5 cm long; sweet but insipid; drupes with crustaceous endocarp. Seeds ca. 1–2 mm long; compressed.

Ploidy: 2n = 14; 28; 42

Habitat: Mesic; disturbed sites; especially in gulches.

Elevation Range: 150–1,200 m.

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (100)

Morus alba f. macrophylla (Moretti) C.K.Schneid. (1904)
Morus alba f. nigrobacca Moldenke (1944)
Morus alba f. pendula (Risso) Dippel (1892)
Morus alba f. pyramidalis (Ser.) Rehder (1949)
Morus alba f. skeletoniana (C.K.Schneid.) Rehder (1949)
Morus alba f. tatarica (L.) Ser. (1855)
Morus alba f. venosa (Delile) Schelle (1903)
Morus alba subsp. tartarica
Morus alba subvar. colombassa (Ser.) Bureau (1873)
Morus alba subvar. columbassetta (Ser.) Bureau (1873)
Morus alba subvar. macrophylla (Moretti) Bureau (1873)
Morus alba subvar. pumila (Balb.) Bureau (1873)
Morus alba subvar. rebalaira Bureau (1873)
Morus alba subvar. romana (Loudon) Bureau (1873)
Morus alba subvar. rosea (Ser.) Bureau (1873)
Morus alba subvar. tatarica (L.) Bureau (1873)
Morus alba subvar. tenuifolia (Ser.) Bureau (1873)
Morus alba subvar. tokwa Bureau (1873)
Morus alba var. arabica Bureau (1873)
Morus alba var. atropurpurea (Roxb.) Bureau (1873)
Morus alba var. chartacea Risso (1826)
Morus alba var. colombassa Ser. (1855)
Morus alba var. columbassetta Ser. (1855)
Morus alba var. constantinopolitana (Poir.) Moretti (1841)
Morus alba var. elongata Risso (1826)
Morus alba var. emarginata Y.B.Wu (1994)
Morus alba var. erecta Risso (1826)
Morus alba var. fibrosa Ser. (1855)
Morus alba var. hispanica Risso (1826)
Morus alba var. integrifolia K.Koch (1849)
Morus alba var. italica (Poir.) Moretti (1841)
Morus alba var. laciniata G.Kirchn. (1864)
Morus alba var. lhou Ser. (1855)
Morus alba var. macrophylla (Moretti) Moretti (1841)
Morus alba var. meridionalis Risso (1826)
Morus alba var. morettii Ser. (1855)
Morus alba var. multicaulis (Perr.) Loudon (1838)
Morus alba var. nana Ser. (1855)
Morus alba var. nervosa (Loudon) Moretti (1841)
Morus alba var. nigriformis Bureau (1873)
Morus alba var. nodosa Risso (1826)
Morus alba var. nodulosa Risso (1826)
Morus alba var. papyracea Risso (1826)
Morus alba var. parvifolia Risso (1826)
Morus alba var. pendula (Risso) Sudw. (1897)
Morus alba var. pumila (Balb.) Moretti (1841)
Morus alba var. pyramidalis Ser. (1855)
Morus alba var. romana Loudon (1838)
Morus alba var. rosea Ser. (1855)
Morus alba var. skeletoniana C.K.Schneid. (1904)
Morus alba var. tatarica (L.) Loudon (1838)
Morus alba var. tenuifolia Ser. (1855)
Morus alba var. venosa Delile (1826)
Morus alba var. vulgaris Risso (1826)
Morus alba var. vungeana Bureau (1873)
Morus alpina Raf. (1839)
Morus arabica (Bureau) Koidz. (1917)
Morus atropurpurea Roxb. (1832)
Morus bullata Balb. ex Loudon (1838)
Morus byzantina Sieber ex Steud. (1841)
Morus chinensis Lodd. ex Loudon (1838)
Morus colombassa Dippel (1892)
Morus constantinopolitana Poir. (1797)
Morus cucullata Bonaf. (1831)
Morus dulcis Royle (1839)
Morus fastigiata Dippel (1892)
Morus furcata Steud. (1841)
Morus guzziola Steud. (1841)
Morus heterophylla Loudon (1838)
Morus hispanica Loudon (1838)
Morus intermedia Perr. (1833)
Morus italica Poir. (1797)
Morus kaki Lavallée (1877)
Morus levasseurei Lavallée (1877)
Morus lhou (Ser.) Koidz. (1930)
Morus lucida Loudon (1838)
Morus macrophylla Moretti (1829)
Morus mariettii Steud. (1841)
Morus membranacea Steud. (1841)
Morus morettiana Lodd. ex Loudon (1838)
Morus morettii Audib. ex Bureau (1873)
Morus multicaulis (Perr.) Perr. (1825)
Morus multicaulis var. cucullata Ser. (1855)
Morus multicaulis var. planifolia Ser. (1855)
Morus nana Audib. ex Loisel. (1824)
Morus nervosa Loudon (1838)
Morus nigra (misapplied)
Morus nigriformis (Bureau) Koidz. (1917)
Morus patavia Audib. ex Dippel (1892)
Morus patavina Spach (1841)
Morus pumila Balb. (1813)
Morus romana Lodd. ex Spach (1841)
Morus serotina Mart. ex Bureau (1873)
Morus sinensis G.Don (1830)
Morus subalba Steud. (1841)
Morus tatarica L. (1753)
Morus tokwa (Bureau) K.Koch (1872)
Morus tortuosa Audib. ex Moretti (1841)
Morus venassainii Steud. (1841)
Morus venosa (Delile) Spach (1841)

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • (Hillebrand, 1888)
  • 150-1,200 m
  • Description digitized by Tim
  • Originally cultivated for the raising of silkworms and naturalized prior to 1871. It is not entirely clear if this species is actually naturalized or only persisting; thesituation should be investigated. Seemann (1852) mentions that he observed Morus indica L. on O'ahu in 1849; it was used in silkworm culture and eaten as a fruit. This observation is probably of the present species

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 986 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:926 (K, O, Mo, M, H); Staples & Herbst 2005:412 (DESCR)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Morus alba east Maui, Hana District, western Keanae Valley, Pi`ina`au Stream. Vegetation: Metrosideros/Dicranopteris Lowland Wet Forest. Preserved_Specimen Apparently naturalized, shrubs to 4 m tall. Oppenheimer, H.L. 101408 Maui BISH 2014-10-23
2 Morus alba Kalalau Valley. Eastern most sub-valley. Lower down Valley near a hippy garden along the main stream, boardered by riparian forest. Along main stream, boardered by riparian forest dominated by Psidium guayava and Aleurites moluccana. With Indigofere suffruticosa, Citrus, Carica papaya, Aloe vera, Synmphytum officinale, Ageratum. Preserved_Specimen Tree about 10 ft. tall. Fruits red and hanging. Bark white. Tangalin, N. 1948 Kauai BISH 2010-02-25
3 Morus alba Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden Preserved_Specimen Spindly shrub of 10 ft. Stigmas white. Mature fruit dark red. Flynn, T.W. 1519 Kauai BISH 1986-02-19
4 Morus alba Pupukea [sp?] Ridge Forest, 2% slope, clay loam soil, warm temperature Preserved_Specimen Scandent or vine w/ stout pricules; white flower Sanchez, S. 15 Molokai BISH 1986-01-21
5 Morus alba Kokee. Halemanu Road just before the junction with the Waipoo Falls turnoff Preserved_Specimen Multistemmed, to seven ft. Fruit red. Flynn, T.W. 962 Kauai BISH 1984-12-11
6 Morus alba Trail up West banks of Honomam Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2597 Maui BISH 1920-06-23
7 Morus alba Honolulu, 42 Coelho Way Preserved_Specimen Young tree 10 ft. high, purple black fruit, tart. Neal, M.C. 1236 Oahu BISH 1944-05-08
8 Morus alba Halemanu, Kolbee, Kauai Preserved_Specimen Large tree in dryinsh sunny stream bed. Degener, O. 271781 Kauai BISH 1960-11-15
9 Morus alba Along roadside near Ulupalakua Preserved_Specimen Small tree with light brown bark; lax, slender branches; shiny, dark green leaves. Herbst, D.R. 818 Maui BISH 1967-12-24
10 Morus alba Waianae Range, Honouliuli, North Branch South Kaaikukai Gulch Preserved_Specimen Webster, G.L. 1375 Oahu BISH 1948-03-26
11 Morus alba Cultivated, located near Hale Manoa, Manoa Campus, University of Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Shrubby tree with light green, glossy foliage and purple fruits. Herbst, D.R. 610 Oahu BISH 1967-09-20
12 Morus alba The residence of Betty Ho, 3785 Old Pali Road, Honolulu, Hawaii Preserved_Specimen A tree 5 m tall with wispy branches. Fruits pale green with a crimson blush. In full sun. Lau, J. 2281 Oahu BISH 1986-04-21
13 Morus alba Many shrubs about the old volcano house near the steam bath Preserved_Specimen Shrub about 12 feet high. Fagerlund, G.O. 845 Hawaii BISH 1943-09-13
14 Morus alba Wailua, Wailua Homesteads, Puu Pilo Rd, across from junction of Puu Pilo Place, on West side of road Preserved_Specimen Tree about 15 ft. tall. Single trunk, w/ branches cascading onto roadside. Leaves thin, shinny dark green above, light green w/ light green raised veins below. Full of fruit green to bight red. Branches falling onto roadside Tangalin, N. 1291 Kauai BISH 2007-05-29
15 Morus alba Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Garden, 59-864 Kam Hwy. Haleiwa, Tropical fruit sec Preserved_Specimen Tree to 4 m.; fruit red. Annable, C.R. 3627 Oahu BISH 1997-07-18
16 Morus alba Wailau Trail Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 334 Molokai BISH 1912-08-01
17 Morus alba East Maui. Waiale Gulch, Haleakala Ranch Gulch. Vegetation: Eucalyptus sp., Myrsine lessertiana, Acacia mearnsii. Preserved_Specimen Tree. On walls, scattered in gulch. Starr, F. 508164 Maui BISH 2005-08-16
18 Morus alba East Maui, Upper ditch trail Preserved_Specimen Skottsberg, C.J.F. Maui BISH 1922-10-13
19 Morus alba Planted near Farrington Hall on University of Hawaii campus Preserved_Specimen Webster, G.L. 1328 Oahu BISH 1948-03-21
20 Morus alba Kauai Preserved_Specimen Lyon, H.L. Kauai BISH 1935-03-28
21 Morus alba Manoa Valley Preserved_Specimen Krauss, N.H. Oahu BISH 1934-01-02
22 Morus alba Waimea District: Waimea Canyon, Napali-Kona Forest Reserve, Koaia Canyon, before Hipalau Degraded Diverse Mesic forest W/ Plumbago, Syzygium cumini, Psisium guajava, Erythrina sandwicensis, Aleurites, Melia, Stachytarpheta, Coffea, Lantana, Diospyros, Sida, Urena lobata. Preserved_Specimen 10 ft tall. Bark tan brown. Berries green or white. Lvs thick med-green above, below light green. Tangalin, N. 3615 Kauai BISH 2024-05-15
23 Morus alba Wainiha Valley Altitude 500 ft Moist open woods by trail Preserved_Specimen tree 20 ft x3 inches, fruit bead St.John, H. 131947 Kauai BISH
24 Morus alba Maunahiuna, Wainiha Altitude 300m located in small pocket terrace in a clump- wet shady gulch Preserved_Specimen Ht. 3-4 m. Small tree- shrub Earle, E. 44 Kauai BISH 1972-09-10
25 Morus alba Papaloa, Wailua Houselots, Koki Rd Naturalizing on the roadside possibly escaped from yard above rd and up hillside Preserved_Specimen Single small tree, 7ft tall, Fruit red; leaves dark green, abaxial surface w. yellow veins Tangalin, N. 1334 Kauai BISH 2007-05-30
26 Morus alba Hanapepe Valley Altitude 150 m along stream, in rocks Preserved_Specimen Ht. 6m. MacDaniels, L.H. 854 Kauai BISH 1927-02-02
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