Morus alba L.

Spice Fruit Fruit 2 In the University

Family: MORACEAE

Genus: Morus

Catalan common name: Morer blanc. Morera blanca.

Spanish common name: Moral blanco. Morera. Morera blanca.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Asia

Uses and properties: Furniture, construction and tools. Medicinal.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Macrophanerophyte.

Habitats: Garden plants. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Gardens and subspontaneus.

Description: A medium sized deciduous tree that usually grow to beyond 12 to 15 m in height, with an ovate or rounded crown. Large leaves, almost glabrous and shiny on the obverse, alternate, petiolate and variable in form, rounded cordate, dentate or lobed, clear green in colour, without hairs to slightly hairy, an oval lamina, irregularly heart-shaped in form, asymmetric. The fruit are white, rose to dark red in colour, sweet and edible almost from the beginning of their development. The flowers are small, dense elongated or ovoid.

Observations: This tree is grown as a food source for silkworms and as an ornamental and shade tree.