red mulberry: Definition from Answers.com

Morus rubra

The leaf (above) & bark (below) of the Red mulberry tree

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Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Moraceae
Tribe:	Moreae
Genus:	Morus
Species:	M. rubra

Binomial name

Morus rubra
L.

The red mulberry (Morus rubra) is a species of mulberry native to eastern North America, from northernmost Ontario and Vermont south to southern Florida and west to southeast South Dakota and central Texas. Although red mulberry is common in the United States, it is listed as an endangered species in Canada.^[1]^[2]

It is a deciduous tree, growing to 10-15 m tall, rarely 20 m, with a trunk up to 50 cm diameter. The leaves are alternate, 7-14 cm long and 6-12 cm broad, simple, broadly cordate, with a shallow notch at the base, typically unlobed on mature trees although often with 2-3 lobes, particularly on young trees, and with a finely serrated margin.^[1] The upper surface of the leaves is noticeably rough, similar in texture to fine sandpaper, and unlike the lusterous upper surface of the leaves of white mulberry.^[3] The underside of the leaves is covered with soft hairs. It is hardy up to -25° Celsius (USDA Zone 5).

The flowers are relatively inconspicuous: small, yellowish green or reddish green, and opening as leaves emerge. Male and female flowers are usually on separate trees although they may occur on the same tree.

The fruit is a compound cluster of several small drupes, similar in appearance to a blackberry, 2-3 cm long, red ripening dark purple, edible and very sweet with a good flavor.^[1]

Status

The species is threatened by extensive hybridization with the invasive white mulberry, introduced from Asia.^[4]

Uses

The first English colonists to explore eastern Virginia in 1607 mentioned the abundance of both mulberry trees and their fruit, which was eaten, sometimes boiled, by the native Powhatan tribes. Today it is sometimes still eaten by those lucky enough to come across it.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Flora of North America: Morus rubra
^ Ambrose, J. D., & Kirk, D. (2004). National Recovery Strategy for Red Mulberry (Morus rubra L.). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
^ Farrar, J.L. (1995). Trees in Canada. Fitzhenry and Whiteside/Canadian Forest Service, Markham, Ontario.
^ Burgess, K. S., Morgan, M., Deverno, L., & Husband, B. C. (2005). Asymmetrical introgression between two Morus species (M. alba, M. rubra) that differ in abundance. Molec. Ecol. 14: 3471–3483 pdf file.

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