Morus rubra
Family: Moraceae
Plant Description: Deciduous tree to 13 m high. Leaves, palmate, 4-12 cm long, ovate or oval, toothed, and sometimes lobed, alternate. Upper surface of leave faintly to strongly roughened. Mainly basal veins 3. Fresh twigs with cloudy or milky juice, pith continuous. Flowers separate male and female in drooping catkins on same tree, greenish. Fruits 1.2 cm long, red, called a syncarp (small, juicy, crowded and compacted together to for a single fruit).
Plant Trivia: Introduced from China and is widespread.
Field Identification:
Occurrence: Frequent in stream bottoms, mostly in eastern half of area. live in maritime oak woods, mixed hardwoods, shell mounds, fence rows, and around buildings.
Bloom Period: March
Plant Use: Planted for shade and fruit.
Key to species of Morus:
- Leaves glabrous except usually along veins………………………………….M. alba
Leaves soft pubescent beneath…………………………………………………….M. rubra
stxflora 