Russian mulberry (Morus alba, Sp. Pl.: 986 (1753))

Family: Moraceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 986 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Morus

Vegetable: False

Observations: C. China

Description

The Russian mulberry, known scientifically as Morus alba, is a species of the Moraceae family. This resilient plant, native to Central China, has been cultivated and naturalized in many regions around the world due to its adaptability and variety of uses.

Morus alba, first classified and described in 1753, is an integral part of its ecosystem, offering significant ecological benefits. The plant typically grows as a deciduous tree reaching heights between 10 to 20 meters. Its leaves, which are often glossy and serrated, serve as the primary food source for silkworms, playing a crucial role in the sericulture industry.

The Russian mulberry produces small, inconspicuous flowers that eventually give way to berries that change color from white to pink and eventually to a dark red or black as they ripen. These berries are not just important for wildlife, providing food for various bird species, but are also cherished by humans for their sweet, slightly tart flavor and nutritional value. They can be consumed raw, dried, or used in various culinary applications such as pies, jams, and wines.

Beyond its fruit, the Russian mulberry is known for its hearty wood, which is used in carpentry and crafting musical instruments due to its durability and workability. Additionally, various parts of the tree have been used in traditional medicine for their purported health benefits, including the treatment of ailments such as hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory issues.

Cultivating Morus alba is relatively easy due to its tolerance of a range of soil types and climates. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, although it can also tolerate periods of drought once established. This adaptability makes it a popular choice for erosion control and as a shade tree in urban planning.

In summary, the Russian mulberry (Morus alba) is a versatile and valuable plant with a rich history rooted in Central China, contributing both ecologically and economically to various sectors worldwide. Its cultivation has spread far beyond its origin, making it a widely recognized and utilized species.

Common Names

Tur: akdut
Lit: baltasis šilkmedis
Ron: dud alb
Dan: hvid morbær
Spa: morera, mora, moral blanco, morera blanca, morera-blanca
Eng: mulberry, russian mulberry, silkworm mulberry, white mulberry, white-mulberry
Fra: mûrier blanc, mûrier commun, mûrier-blanc
Deu: weisser maulbeerbaum, weiße maulbeere, weißer maulbeerbaum
Por: amora, amora-branca, amoreira, amoreira-branca
Ell: aspri mouria, mouria, sykamnia
Afr: gewone moerbei, witmoerbei
Swe: vitt mullbär, vitmullbärsträd
Mlt: ċawsli bajda
Nld: witte moerbei
En: Russian mulberry, Silkworm mulberry, White mulberry, Mulberry, White-mulberry, White Mullberry, Chinese White Mulberry, Common Mulberry, Kuwa, Mora
Af: Gewone moerbei, Witmoerbei
Ca: Morera blanca
Zh: Sang
Cs: Morušovník bílý
Da: Hvid morbær
Nl: Witte moerbei, Witte Moerbezie
Fr: Mûrier blanc, Mûrier commun, Mûrier-blanc
De: Weißer Maulbeerbaum, Weisser maulbeerbaum, Weiße Maulbeere
El: Aspri mouria, Mouria, Sykamnia
He: תות לבן
It: Gelso bianco, Gelso comune, Moro bianco
Ja: Kuwa
Lt: Baltasis šilkmedis
Mt: Ċawsli bajda
Pt: Amoreira-branca, Amora, Amora-branca, Amoreira
Ro: Dud alb
Ru: Šelkovica belaja
Sk: Moruša biela
Es: Morera blanca, Mora, Moral blanco, Morera, Morera-blanca
Sv: Vitt mullbär, Vitmullbärsträd
Tr: Akdut

Synonyms

• Morus venosa ((Delile) Spach)
• Morus alba var. atropurpurea ((Roxb.) Bureau)
• Morus alba subvar. tatarica ((L.) Bureau)
• Morus alba subvar. romana ((Loudon) Bureau)
• Morus alba var. colombassa (Ser.)
• Morus alba var. skeletoniana (C.K.Schneid.)
• Morus alba var. parvifolia (Risso)
• Morus alba var. nana (Ser.)
• Morus alba var. laciniata (Beissn.)
• Morus bullata (Balb. ex Loudon)
• Morus alba var. pendula (Risso)
• Morus alba subvar. rosea ((Ser.) Bureau)
• Morus subalba (Steud.)
• Morus alba var. tenuifolia (Ser.)
• Morus alba var. nodosa (Risso)
• Morus alba var. nigriformis (Bureau)
• Morus multicaulis var. cucullata (Ser.)
• Morus intermedia (Perr.)
• Morus alba f. tatarica ((L.) C.K.Schneid.)
• Morus mariettii (Steud.)
• Morus alba f. pendula ((Risso) Dippel)
• Morus italica (Poir.)
• Morus lucida (Loudon)
• Morus alba var. tatarica ((L.) Loudon)
• Morus serotina (Mart. ex Bureau)
• Morus alba var. romana (Loudon)
• Morus alba var. columbassetta (Ser.)
• Morus alba var. multicaulis ((Perr.) Loudon)
• Morus alba var. hispanica (Risso)
• Morus alba f. skeletoniana ((C.K.Schneid.) Rehder)
• Morus alba var. pyramidalis (Ser.)
• Morus byzantina (Sieber ex Steud.)
• Morus alba var. italica ((Poir.) Moretti)
• Morus alba subvar. colombassa ((Ser.) Bureau)
• Morus fastigiata (Dippel)
• Morus multicaulis ((Perr.) Perr.)
• Morus pumila (Balb.)
• Morus alba var. integrifolia (K.Koch)
• Morus alba var. papyracea (Risso)
• Morus alba var. nervosa ((Loudon) Moretti)
• Morus alba subvar. pumila ((Balb.) Bureau)
• Morus alba var. arabica (Bureau)
• Morus multicaulis var. planifolia (Ser.)
• Morus heterophylla (Loudon)
• Morus nigriformis ((Bureau) Koidz.)
• Morus alba var. emarginata (Y.B.Wu)
• Morus alba var. meridionalis (Risso)
• Morus alba var. lhou (Ser.)
• Morus alba subvar. columbassetta ((Ser.) Bureau)
• Morus kaki (Lavallée)
• Morus tortuosa (Audib. ex Moretti)
• Morus alba var. chartacea (Risso)
• Morus alba var. fibrosa (Ser.)
• Morus alba subvar. macrophylla ((Moretti) Bureau)
• Morus alba f. nigrobacca (Moldenke)
• Morus furcata (Steud.)
• Morus dulcis (Royle)
• Morus alba var. morettii (Ser.)
• Morus cucullata (Bonaf.)
• Morus nana (Audib. ex Loisel.)
• Morus atropurpurea (Roxb.)
• Morus alba pendula ((Risso) Sudw.)
• Morus morettii (Audib. ex Bureau)
• Morus alba var. elongata (Risso)
• Morus levasseurei (Lavallée)
• Morus alba var. pumila ((Balb.) Moretti)
• Morus alpina (Raf.)
• Morus alba f. venosa ((Delile) Schelle)
• Morus chinensis (Lodd. ex Loudon)
• Morus colombassa (Dippel)
• Morus membranacea (Steud.)
• Morus alba var. vungeana (Bureau)
• Morus romana (Lodd. ex Spach)
• Morus patavia (Audib. ex Dippel)
• Morus macrophylla (Moretti)
• Morus hispanica (Loudon)
• Morus sinensis (G.Don)
• Morus alba var. rosea (Ser.)
• Morus alba subvar. rebalaira (Bureau)
• Morus alba var. vulgaris (Risso)
• Morus venassainii (Steud.)
• Morus alba var. constantinopolitana ((Poir.) Moretti)
• Morus alba subvar. tokwa (Bureau)
• Morus alba f. macrophylla ((Moretti) C.K.Schneid.)
• Morus alba var. erecta (Risso)
• Morus arabica ((Bureau) Koidz.)
• Morus guzziola (Steud.)
• Morus alba subvar. tenuifolia ((Ser.) Bureau)
• Morus lhou ((Ser.) Koidz.)
• Morus tokwa ((Bureau) K.Koch)
• Morus alba var. nodulosa (Risso)
• Morus alba var. macrophylla ((Moretti) Moretti)
• Morus constantinopolitana (Poir.)
• Morus alba var. venosa (Delile)
• Morus alba f. pyramidalis ((Ser.) Rehder)
• Morus patavina (Spach)
• Morus nervosa (Loudon)
• Morus morettiana (Lodd. ex Loudon)

Distribution

• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• Afghanistan (introduced)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Albania (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Buryatiya (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Central African Repu (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Inner Mongolia (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Iran (introduced)
• Iraq (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Kirgizstan (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Kriti (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Lebanon-Syria (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Libya (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Manchuria (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North Dakota (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Oman (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Qinghai (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South Dakota (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Swaziland (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Tibet (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Tunisia (introduced)
• Turkey (introduced)
• Turkey-in-Europe (introduced)
• Turkmenistan (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Xinjiang (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken May 30, 2019 by Marc Termonia (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 8, 2021 by Guillemette Darzacq (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 11, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 31, 2017 by Elizabet Groppa (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 11, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Sep 3, 2022 by melina.korfiati melina.korfiati (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 19, 2017 by Serge BIZOUERNE (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2019 by Marc Termonia (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 5, 2018 by Sibel Tunali (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 11, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Jul 14, 2015 by Tela Botanica − maryse doki thonon (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 18, 2020 by Ortiz Carlos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 22, 2021 by carper ml (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 15, 2021 by M Uge (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 14, 2019 by jid (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 13, 2022 by Neo Oppo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 13, 2022 by Neo Oppo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 3, 2019 by Muñoz Campaña Antonio (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 29, 2019 by Irina Lubarsky (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2017 by daniele (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Dec 3, 2019 by Muñoz Campaña Antonio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 21, 2022 by Acosta García Isabel (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2020 by plantseeker (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 22, 2021 by Bénédicte OUDART (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 29, 2019 by Irina Lubarsky (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Oct 12, 2011 by Tela Botanica − daniel BARTHELEMY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 12, 2011 by Tela Botanica − daniel BARTHELEMY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 12, 2011 by Tela Botanica − daniel BARTHELEMY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 12, 2011 by Tela Botanica − daniel BARTHELEMY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 17, 2022 by Herman Van Boxem (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5361889)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30051955-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Morus alba L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Stem

Growth habit: Tree, Shrub

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.0

Ph minimum: 5.0

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 4

Bloom months: [‘apr’, ‘may’]

Soil nutriments: 5