Morus nigra

Illustration of Black Mulberry (Morus nigra)

The Black Mulberry (Morus nigra) is a species of the genus of the mulberry (Morus ) within the family of the mulberry family ( Moraceae ).

Occurrence

The black mulberry is native to western Asia. However, it was planted at the latest around 1500 already in Southern Europe. In the Mediterranean, and in the southeastern United States it has become naturalized. In Central Europe, however, it is rare to find, as it thrives only in the warmest locations.

Description

The Black Mulberry grows as a deciduous tree and reaches stature heights of up to 12 meters. At the root, there are many bulbous thickening and water shoots. The bark is dark orange with many cracks that unraveled at their sides. The crown is arched low and wide; ancient tribes are leaning or lying down. The bark of the thick branches is initially light green, later brown to purple- gray and somewhat hairy and has scattered large lenticels on. The bud is dark purple-brown thick and shiny.

The leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade. The hairy petiole is 1.5 to 2.5 cm long. The leaf blade is ovate to heart-shaped with a pointed upper end with a length and width of 8 to 12 cm, sometimes up to 18 cm. The leaf margin is irregularly notched and sometimes three-lobed. The leaf blade is rough and hairy, glossy dark green above, lighter below.

The male inflorescences are short very bright kitten. The egg-shaped to spherical fruits are initially green, stain in July orange to scarlet and dark blackish shortly before the fall. When fully ripe they are sweet, juicy and edible.

Taxonomy

The first publication was in 1753 by Linnaeus under the name Morus nigra in his work Species Plantarum, 2, pp. 986 listed.

Use

There are several cultivated forms in culture. Here is a selection:

• 'Black Persian ': With large black fruits that are about 3 inches long and almost as wide. The fruits are juicy.
• ' Chelsea ': This form wears long, dark fruits of fine flavor.
• ' Käster ': A high-yielding variety that comes from Los Angeles. It has large, oblong, black or dark red fruits. The fruits are about 3 to 4 cm long and about 2 cm wide. The taste is very sweet.
• ' Wellington ': A high-yielding variety with medium sized, cylindrical, elongated fruit. The fruits are about 3 cm long and 1 cm wide.

Swell

• Alan Mitchell, translated and edited by Gerd Krüssmann: The forest and park trees in Europe: a field guide for dendrologists and nature lovers. Paul Parey, Hamburg and Berlin, 1975, ISBN 3-490-05918-2.
• Sheet at California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. (Section Description and varieties )