View source for Morus alba

{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = White mulberry
|image = Rosales - Morus alba - 3.jpg
|taxon = Morus alba
|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]] 1753
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision =
* '''''Morus alba'' var. ''alba'''''
* '''''Morus alba'' var. ''multicaulis''''' {{au|(Perr.) Loudon}}
|synonyms_ref=<ref>{{ThePlantList |id=kew-2501381 |taxon=Morus alba |authority=L.}}</ref>
|synonyms=
* ''Morus atropurpurea'' <small>Roxb.</small>
* ''Morus chinensis'' <small>Lodd. ex Loudon</small>
* ''Morus intermedia'' <small>Perr.</small>
* ''Morus latifolia'' <small>Poir.</small>
* ''Morus multicaulis'' <small>(Perr.) Perr.</small>
* ''Morus tatarica'' <small>L.</small>
}}

'''''Morus alba''''', known as '''white mulberry''', '''common mulberry''' and '''silkworm mulberry''',<ref>[https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/morus_alba.htm ''Morus alba'' L.] by Weeds of Australia - Biosecurity Queensland Edition ([[Queensland Government]])</ref> is a fast-growing, small to medium-sized [[Morus (plant)|mulberry]] tree which grows to {{convert|10–20|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall. It is generally a short-lived tree with a lifespan comparable to that of humans, although there are some specimens known to be more than 250 years old.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/trees/morusalba/records/ |title = The thickest, tallest, and oldest white mulberry trees (''Morus alba'')}}</ref> The species is native to China and India<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Patel | first1=Raman | last2=Hazra | first2=Taposhi | last3=Rana | first3=Rajendra Singh | last4=Hazra | first4=Manoshi | last5=Bera | first5=Subir | last6=Khan | first6=Mahasin Ali | title=First fossil record of mulberry from Asia | journal=Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology |volume=292 | year=2021 | issn=0034-6667 | doi=10.1016/j.revpalbo.2021.104459 | page=104459| bibcode=2021RPaPa.29204459P }}</ref> and is widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (including United States, Mexico, Australia, Kyrgyzstan, Argentina, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and many others).<ref name=FoCMa/><ref name=fao>{{Cite journal |title=Morus alba |author= |journal=Flora of China |volume=5 | page=23 |date= |access-date=26 August 2022 |url= http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200006379}}</ref><ref>{{eFloras|1|200006379|''Morus alba'' |family=Moraceae |first=Richard P. |last=Wunderlin}}</ref><ref>{{BONAP |genus=Morus |species=alba |date=2014}}</ref><ref>[http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:262244# Atlas of Living Australia,  ''Morus alba'' L., White Mulberry]{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>[http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=3168 SEINet, Southwestern Biodiversity, Arizona chapter] photos, description, distribution map</ref>

The white mulberry is widely cultivated to feed the [[silkworms]] employed in the commercial production of [[silk]]. It is also notable for the rapid release of its [[pollen]], which is launched at greater than half the [[speed of sound]].<ref name="Taylor et al">{{Cite journal
| doi = 10.1007/s00497-005-0018-9
| volume = 19
| issue = 1
| pages = 19–24
| last = Taylor
| first = Philip
|author2=Gwyneth Card |author3=James House |author4=Michael Dickinson |author5=Richard Flagan
 | title = High-speed pollen release in the white mulberry tree, ''Morus alba'' L
| journal = Sexual Plant Reproduction
| date = 2006-03-01
| s2cid = 39703983
}}</ref> Its berries are edible when ripe.

==Description==
[[File:توت خراسان.jpg|thumb|Iranian fruits]]
[[File:Morus-alba.jpg|thumb|Leaves and fruit]]
On young, vigorous shoots, the [[leaf|leaves]] may be up to {{convert|30|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, and deeply and intricately lobed, with the lobes rounded. On older trees, the leaves are generally {{convert|5-15|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} long, unlobed, cordate at the base and rounded to acuminate at the tip, and serrated on the margins. Generally, the trees are [[deciduous]] in temperate regions, but trees grown in tropical regions may be [[evergreen]].{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The [[flower]]s are single-sex [[catkin]]s; male catkins are {{convert|2-3.5|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} long, and female catkins {{convert|1-2|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} long. Male and female flowers are usually found on separate trees although they may occur on the same tree.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:U-bNHGhJ5foJ:https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/1811/2048/V19N07_409.pdf?sequence%3D1+Schaffner,+John+H.+1919.+The+nature+of+the+diecious+condition+in+%27%27Morus+alba%27%27+and+%27%27Salix+amygdaloides%27%27+Ohio+Journal+of+Science.+18+:+101-125.&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi_7pDVmcnG_GjcCrgoZvuCYCgdHbUXmv3yEgR4CHqXcyLMiqxMq9Za2wFqzxWh4ry8W8tR1NSGyn5MWEiiNW2dhSn6q91S8Bo6ulhgWoMQIjy3rGEDdwE1gljX9ELR6Ar-8KuY&sig=AHIEtbQ551w5GVEOF5rbCoZNH8e_tPBzQw Schaffner, John H. 1919. The nature of the diecious condition in ''Morus alba'' and ''Salix amygdaloides''. Ohio Journal of Science 18: 101-125.]</ref><ref>[http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/morus_alba.html Purdue University. Center for New Crops & Plant Products. NewCROP: ''Morus alba''.]</ref> The [[fruit]] is {{convert|1-1.5|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} long. In the wild it is deep purple, but in many cultivated plants it varies from white to pink. It is sweet but bland, unlike the more intense flavor of the [[red mulberry]] and [[black mulberry]]. The seeds are widely dispersed in the droppings of birds that eat the fruit.<ref name=FoCMa/><ref name=fao/><ref name=bean>Bean, W. J. (1978). ''Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles''. John Murray {{ISBN|0-7195-2256-0}}.</ref>

The white mulberry is scientifically notable for the [[rapid plant movement]] involved in pollen release from its catkins. The [[stamen]]s act as catapults, releasing stored elastic energy in just 25 μs. The resulting movement is approximately {{convert|380|mph|km/h}}, about half the [[speed of sound]], making it the fastest known movement in the plant kingdom.<ref name="Taylor et al"/>

==Taxonomy==
Two varieties of ''Morus alba'' are recognized:<ref name=FoCMa>{{eFloras|2|200006379|Morus alba |family=Moraceae |first1=Zhengyi |last1=Wu |first2=Zhe-Kun |last2=Zhou |first3=Michael G. |last3=Gilbert |access-date=27 June 2013}}</ref>
* ''Morus alba'' var. ''alba''
* ''Morus alba'' var. ''multicaulis''

==Cultivation==
[[File:Women placing silkworms on trays together with mulberry leaves (Sericulture by Liang Kai, 1200s).jpg|thumb|220px|Mulberry leaves placed on trays with silkworms ([[Liang Kai]]'s ''[[Sericulture]]'' c. 1200s)]]
Cultivation of white mulberry to nourish silkworms began more than 4,700 years ago in [[China]] and has since been introduced in other countries. The Ancient Greeks and Romans cultivated the mulberry for silkworms. At least as early as 220 AD, Emperor [[Elagabalus]] wore a silk robe.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Lyle|first=Katie Letcher|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/560560606|title=The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits, and Nuts: How to Find, Identify, and Cook Them|publisher=[[FalconGuides]]|year=2010|isbn=978-1-59921-887-8|edition=2nd|location=Guilford, CN|pages=103|oclc=560560606|orig-year=2004}}</ref> It was introduced into other parts of Europe in the twelfth century and into [[Latin America]] after the [[Spanish conquest]] in the fifteenth century.<ref name= feed>[https://feedipedia.org/node/123 White mulberry (Morus alba)] by Feedipedia.org</ref> In 2002, 6,260&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of land were devoted to the species in China.<ref name="fao"/>

It has been grown widely from the [[Indian subcontinent]]<ref name=fao/> west through [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iran]] to southern Europe for more than a thousand years for leaves to feed silkworms.<ref name="bean"/>

More recently, it has become widely naturalized in disturbed areas such as roadsides and the edges of tree lots, along with urban areas in much of North America, where it hybridizes readily with the locally native [[red mulberry]] ''(Morus rubra)''. There is now serious concern for the long-term genetic viability of the red mulberry because of extensive hybridization in some areas.<ref name="Burgess, K. S.">Burgess, K.S., Morgan, M., Deverno, L., & Husband, B. C. (2005). Asymmetrical introgression between two ''Morus'' species ''(M. alba, M. rubra)'' that differ in abundance. Molec. Ecol. 14: 3471–3483.</ref>

The species is now extensively planted and widely [[Naturalization (biology)|naturalized]] throughout the warm temperate world and in [[subarctic]] regions as well, and would survive in elevations as high as {{convert|4000|m|ft}}. They thrive in mildly acidic, well drained, sandy loam and clayey loam soils, though they can withstand poor soils as well.<ref name= feed/>

==Toxicity==
Tests on [[laboratory rat]]s have not found mulberry extract to present significant toxicity.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Hong | first1=Min | last2=Lu | first2=Min | last3=Qian | first3=Yimin | last4=Wei | first4=Liping | last5=Zhang | first5=Yaqun | last6=Pan | first6=Xueying | last7=Li | first7=Hua | last8=Chen | first8=Huaying | last9=Tang | first9=Naping | title=A 90-day Sub-chronic Oral Toxicity Assessment of Mulberry Extract in Sprague Dawley Rats | journal=INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing | publisher=SAGE Publications | volume=58 | year=2021 | issn=0046-9580 | doi=10.1177/00469580211056044| pmid=34812659 | pmc=8613892 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1=Li | first1=Yuzhe | last2=Zhang | first2=Xiaopeng | last3=Liang | first3=Chunlai | last4=Hu | first4=Jing | last5=Yu | first5=Zhou | title=Safety evaluation of mulberry leaf extract: Acute, subacute toxicity and genotoxicity studies | journal=Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology| volume=95 | year=2018 | issn=0273-2300 | doi=10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.03.007 | pages=220–226| pmid=29530616 | s2cid=4859424 }}</ref>

According to a [[coroner]]'s report, Lori McClintock, wife of US politician [[Tom McClintock]], died in December 2021 from dehydration due to [[gastroenteritis]] caused by "adverse effects of white mulberry leaf ingestion"; the leaf is used as a dietary supplement or herbal remedy for weight loss and diabetes.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/congressmans-wife-died-herbal-remedy-white-mulberry-leaf-rcna44721|title = Congressman's wife died after taking herbal remedy marketed|last = Young|first = Samantha|agency = [[Kaiser Health News]]|work = [[NBC News]]|date = August 24, 2022}}</ref>

==Uses==
[[File:Ppongnip-cha.jpg|thumb|''Ppongnip-cha'' (mulberry leaf tea)]]

White mulberry leaves are the preferred feedstock for silkworms, and are also cut for food for livestock (cattle, goats, etc.) in areas where dry seasons restrict the availability of ground vegetation.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The leaves are prepared as [[traditional Korean tea|tea]] in Korea. The fruit are also eaten, often dried or made into wine.<ref name="fao"/><ref name="bean"/>

For landscaping, a fruitless mulberry was developed from a clone for use in the production of [[silk]] in the U.S. The industry never materialized, but the mulberry variety is now used as an ornamental tree where shade is desired without the fruit.<ref>[http://home.howstuffworks.com/fruitless-mulberry-tree.htm Howstuffworks.com]</ref>

White mulberry, ''Morus alba'' 'Pendula', is used as an ornamental plant.<ref name="USDA Plants Profile">{{PLANTS |symbol=MOAL |taxon=Morus alba}}</ref> It was planted at several grand stations built along the [[Lackawanna Railroad]] in New Jersey during the late 1800s and early 1900s.<!-- Summit, Chatham, Madison, and Morristown --> The species is a lawn tree across the desert cities of the southwestern United States, prized for its shade and also for its cylindrical berry clusters composed of sweet, purplish-white fruits.<ref>{{cite book |last=Little |first=Elbert L. |title=The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Western Region |year=1994 |orig-year=1980 |publisher=Knopf |isbn=0394507614 |edition=Chanticleer Press|page=424}}</ref> The plant's pollen is problematic in some cities where it has been blamed for an increase in [[hay fever]].<ref>[http://www.pollenlibrary.com/Specie/Morus+alba/ Pollen Library, White Mulberry ''(Morus alba)'']</ref><ref>[http://www.phadia.com/en/Products/Allergy-testing-products/ImmunoCAP-Allergen-Information/Tree-Pollens/Allergens/Mulberry-/ Thermo Scientific],</ref><ref>[http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/publications/yavcobulletins/Plants%2520That%2520May%2520Cause%2520Allergies.pdf University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County, Plants That May Cause Allergies in Yavapai County] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616003659/http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/publications/yavcobulletins/Plants%20That%20May%20Cause%20Allergies.pdf |date=2016-06-16 }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Morus alba MHNT.BOT.2006.0.1270.JPG|'' Morus alba '' - [[MHNT]]
File:FruitlessMulberry-3965.jpg|Fruitless mulberry trees
File:MorusAlbaChampion.jpg|Pennsylvania state champion ''Morus alba'' at [[Longwood Gardens]].
File:Morusalbaleavesandflowersspring2500ppx.jpg|Leaves and male flowers in the spring.
File:Morus alba-leaves.jpg|Leaf variation
File:Morus alba flowers in India.jpg|''Morus alba'' flowers in India
File:Morus alba 20190516a.jpg|Flowers and leaves in Spain
File:Morus alba fruits 7th Brigade Park Chermside P1070826.jpg|Fruits in India
File:Morus alba - Tehran.JPG|'Pendula' cultivar in Iran
File:Morus alba in Nesher 3.JPG|A tree planted by [[Edmond James de Rothschild]] in 1922 in attempt to build silk industry in [[Israel]]
File:MulberryPhiladelphia.jpg|Mulberries fallen to the ground in peak season.
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Blackberry]], which has similar-looking fruit
* [[Mulberrofuran G]]
* [[Sericulture]], silk farming
* [[Maclura pomifera|Osage orange]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikispecies-inline|Morus alba}}
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MOAL USDA Plants Profile for ''Morus alba'' white mulberry]
* {{GRIN}}
* [http://www.cirrusimage.com/tree_white_mulberry.htm Morton Arboretum: Diagnostic photos of white mulberry tree (acc. 380*82-1)]
* [http://www.invasive.org/weedcd/pdfs/wow/white_mulberry.pdf Invasive.org: U.S. National Forest Service, Invasive Species Weed of the Week − ''Morus alba'']
{{Commons category|position=left|Morus alba}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q157307}}

[[Category:Morus (plant)|alba]]
[[Category:Endemic flora of China]]
[[Category:Flora of North-Central China]]
[[Category:Trees of China]]
[[Category:Crops originating from China]]
[[Category:Sericulture]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]
[[Category:Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine]]
[[Category:Fruit trees]]