Red MulberryMorus Rubra L.

By: Rachel Finke

Red Mulberry

Classification: (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 Rubra L. Red Mulberry

Figure 1

Shape, Form and Type of a Red Mulberry

The Red Mulberry Tree grows to be medium-sized. It has a short trunk, and the branches broaden out to make a wide, rounded crown. The tree produces a milky sap. The normal height for a Red Mulberry is 60 feet. (2)

Figure 2

Red Mulberry Bark

Young Red Mulberry trees start off as an orange color. (3) Then, as they grow, the bark becomes a brown color. Red Mulberry bark is very scaly. (2) Figure

3

Figure 3

Red Mulberry Twig and Bud

The twig of a Red Mulberry is slender and the same color as the matured bark. (2) They have a scent, have definite margins, and also have overlapping scales. When broken, a silvery-white filament is present. (3) As you can see in Figure 6, the bud is a darker green with a scar located right beside it.

Figure 4

Figure 6

Leaf of a Red Mulberry

Leaves on this tree are ovate and sharply pointed. They have coarse teeth and usually two or three lobes. These leaves are a rough, dark green leaf that have soft hairs on the bottom. (2)

Figure 5

Red Mulberry Flower A Red Mulberry tree can be

either dioecious or monoecious. You can find both male and female flowers, which are catkins shaped as a pendulum, on the same tree. These flowers will usually appear in the late spring. (4) Flowers of a Red Mulberry are pale green in color and won’t exceed two inches in length. (3) The male flower is shown on top, the female on bottom.

Figure 7

Figure 8

Fruit of a Red Mulberry Female flowers ripen

together to produce a fruit that consist of small, round drupelets. These drupelets could be compared to a blackberry. (4) These fruits will appear in the summer and will range in size from one inch to one and a quarter inches. (3)

Figure 9

Figure 10

Habitat and Range of the Red Mulberry

If you visit the Eastern and Central parts of the United States, you are most likely to find a Red Mulberry tree. These trees can tolerate shady areas. (5) The Red Mulberry has its best growth in moist areas. (4)

Figure 11

Uses of a Red Mulberry

Birds and small mammals take use of the Red Mulberry for food. They will eat the sweet fruits the tree produces. The fruits are also used in the creation of different foods, drinks and furniture.(6)

Figure 12

Text Reference1. 2010. USDA. NRCS. PLANTS Profile for Morus rubra (red mulberry) | USDA PLANTS.

Welcome to the PLANTS Database | USDA PLANTS. June 23,2010.http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MORU2

2. 2000. 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. 432-433. Print.

3. 2010. Morus rubra Fact Sheet. College of Natural Resources | Virginia Tech. June

23,2010. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=58

4. Neil 1. Lamson. Morus rubra L. Red Mulberry. Moore, Dwight M., and William P. Thomas. 1977. Red mulberry/Morus rubra L. In Southern fruit-producing woody plants used by wildlife. p. 55-56. Lowell K. Halls, ed. USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report SO-16. Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, LA. June 24,2010.

http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/morus/rubra.htm

5. 2002-2009. Nature Hills Nursery, Inc. Red Mulberry. Trees, Plants, Bushes, and Shrubs offered by Nature Hills Nursery. June 24,2010.

http://www.naturehills.com/product/red_mulberry.aspx

Text Reference

6. Neil Lamson. Morus rubra L. Red Mulberry. Martin, Alexander C., Herbert S. Zim, and Arnold L. Nelson. 1961. Mulberry family: Moraceae. In American wildlife and plants. p. 313-314. Dover Publications, New York. June 24,2010.

http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/morus/rubra.htm

7. Neil 1. Lamson. Morus rubra L. Red Mulberry. June 24,2010.http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/morus/rubra.htm

Figure Reference

1. USDA. NRCS. PLANTS Profile for Morus rubra (red mulberry) | USDA PLANTS. Welcome to the PLANTS Database | USDA PLANTS. June 23,2010.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MORU2

2. Red Mulberry Form Image. June 23,2010.http://pics.davesgarden.com/pics/2008/07/14/WNYwillieB/2240da.jpg

3. 2010. Morus rubra Fact Sheet. College of Natural Resources | Virginia Tech. June 23,2010. June 23,2010

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=58

4. Morus rubra (red mulberry) – twig. June 23,2010.http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/m/moru2-tw15428.htm

5. Morus rubra (red mulberry) - leaf – several. June 23,2010.http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/m/moru2-lfseveral38368.htm

6. Red Mulberry Twig- with Bud. June 24,2010.https://fp.auburn.edu/sfws/samuelson/dendrology/images/moraceae/rd_mulberry%20twig1.jpg

Figure Reference

7. April 4,2007. Durham, NC. Red Mulberry (Morus Rubra). Male Flower. June 24,2010.http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/moru.html

8. May 2,2009. Chapel Hill, NC. Red Mulberry (Morus Rubra). Female Flower. June 24,2010.http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/moru.html

9. June 13,2006. Person Co., NC. Red Mulberry (Morus Rubra). Fruit detail. June 24,2010.http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/moru.html

10. July 19,2006. FYN Program Assistant Ed Ayen. University of Florida. Florida Yards & Neighborhoods. Incredible Edible Native Plants of Central Florida. Red Mulberry Fruit. Picture by Dan Culbert. June 24,2010.

http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu/News%20columns/FYN.edible.natives.htm

11. USDA. NRCS. Plants Profile. Distribution: Morus Rubra L. June 24,2010.http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MORU2

12. Twelve 22. Mulberry Jam. June 24,2010.http://www.twelve22.org/images/2009-02-17jam.jpg