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 leaf 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 form a single fruit)
Field Identification:.
Plant Trivia: Introduced from China and is widespread.
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 the Genus Morus:
- Leaves glabrous except along veins……M. alba
Leaves soft-pubescent beneath…………M. rubra
