genus Morus

Question 1

Morus

Answer 1

genus of flowering, deciduous trees in family Moraceae, known as mulberries

Question 2

Morus alba

Answer 2

White Mulberry, Invasive
Native to South Asia, but now widely distributed
Was brought to America to feed silkworms

Question 3

Morus rubra

Answer 3

Red Mulberry

Native to US

Question 4

Does the color of mulberry fruit determine the species?

Answer 4

No, mulberries may be white, lavender, or black in color.

Question 5

Mulberry and the Silk Industry

Answer 5

Mulberry leaves, particularly white, are the sole food source of the silkworm Bombyx mori, named after the mulberry genus Morus

Question 6

Mulberry and Paper

Answer 6

Monks at Buddhist temples made paper from the bark of mulberry trees. Made books known as kraing.
Tengujo is the thinnest paper in the world. Produced in Japan and made with kozo (stems of mulberry trees)

Question 7

Morus alba vs. rubra

Answer 7

Rubra - leaves much longer, always taper to a conspicuous point, sometimes side lobes, bark gray and straight rather than slightly warmer and braided, fruit borne singly in leaf axils, not clusters, foliage usually less shiny

Question 8

Are mulberries dioecious?

Answer 8

Yes, some are male and some are female. If a female tree is growing with no males nearby, it will make lots of fruit with no seeds or unviable seeds, while a male tree will never fruit. You won’t know the sex until the flower in 5-10 years.

Question 9

How long til mulberries fruit?

Answer 9

5-10 years if grown from seeds, 1-2 years if grafted.