Practical
Plants

Morus alba multicaulis

White Mulberry

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Morus genus in the family Moraceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Moraceae
Genus
Morus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
18 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
monoecious

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw[13][22][7]. Sweet but usually insipid[21][3]. It contains about 1.5% protein, 0.4% fat, 7.8% carbohydrate, 0.7% malic acid[11]. A richer flavour develops if the fruit is dried, it can then be used as a raisin substitute. The fruit is up to 25mm long[15]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Young leaves and shoots - cooked[2][12]. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[9]. A good vegetable, it is rich in carotene and calcium[11]. The leaf also contains 10% tannin[11]. Inner bark - roasted and ground into a meal then used as a thickener in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread. A famine food when all else fails[11]. The tree is said to be a source of an edible manna[12]. Young shoots can be used as a tea substitute[12].

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Inner bark
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The white mulberry has a long history of medicinal use in Chinese medicine, almost all parts of the plant are used in one way or another[18]. Recent research has shown improvements in elephantiasis when treated with leaf extract injections and in tetanus following oral doses of the sap mixed with sugar[18]. Analgesic, emollient, sedative[22][8]. The leaves are antibacterial, astringent, diaphoretic, hypoglycaemic, odontalgic and ophthalmic[17][18]. They are taken internally in the treatment of colds, influenza, eye infections and nosebleeds[18]. The leaves are collected after the first frosts of autumn and can be used fresh but are generally dried[18]. The stems are antirheumatic, diuretic, hypotensive and pectoral[17][18]. A tincture of the bark is used to relieve toothache[22]. The branches are harvested in late spring or early summer and are dried for later use[18]. The fruit has a tonic effect on kidney energy[17][18]. It is used in the treatment of urinary incontinence, tinnitus, premature greying of the hair and constipation in the elderly[18]. The root bark is antitussive, diuretic, expectorant and hypotensive[18]. It is used internally in the treatment of asthma, coughs, bronchitis, oedema, hypertension and diabetes[18]. The roots are harvested in the winter and dried for later use[18]. Extracts of the plant have antibacterial and fungicidal activity[17].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antiasthmatic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Antitussive
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emollient
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Hypoglycaemic
Product or use
Hypotensive
Product or use
Odontalgic
Product or use
Sedative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A fibre is obtained from the bark of one-year old stems, it is used in weaving[22][23]. A brown dye is obtained from the trunk[10]. The leaves contain 10% tannin[11]. Wood - hard, durable, fine and close-grained. Used for boat building, furniture etc[5][6][7].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China?
Habitat
Not known in a truly wild situation.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed germinates best if given 2 - 3 months cold stratification[25][26]. Sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if possible, otherwise in February in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in the first spring, though it sometimes takes another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Plant out in spring. A good percentage take, though they sometimes fail to thrive[24][4]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 25 - 30cm with a heel of 2 year old wood, autumn or early spring in a cold frame or a shady bed outside[24][4][15]. Bury the cuttings to threequarters of their depth. Layering in autumn[15].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a warm well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position[1][3]. This variety of M. alba is said to have superior fruits[2]. According to many botanists it is no more than a clone of the species[15]. This is the form most commonly cultivated in India, where it is fast growing and adapted to field culture. It gives a high yield of large, tender, thick leaves[20]. Mulberries have brittle roots and so need to be handled with care when planting them out[18]. Any pruning should only be carried out in the winter when the plant is fully dormant because mulberries bleed badly when cut[18]. Ideally prune only badly placed branches and dead wood[18]. A good tree for growing grapes into[14]. The grapes are difficult to pick but always seem to be healthier and free from fungal diseases[16]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[15].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  5. Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976-00-00

    ↩

  6. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-292-78958-3

    ↩

  7. Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩

  9. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  10. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  11. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  12. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  14. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩

  15. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  16. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩

  17. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  18. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13↩14↩15

  19. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

  20. Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983-00-00

    ↩

  21. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

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  22. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  23. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

  24. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  25. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩

  26. Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs.

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