White Mulberry (Common Mulberry)
Morus alba · Moraceae (Mulberry family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Ovate to broadly cordate (heart-shaped at base), unlobed form
Margin
Serrate (coarsely toothed)
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Palmate venation radiating from the base with prominent whitish-green primary and secondary veins and a reticulate minor network.
Key Features
Alternate simple leaves with serrate margins, palmate venation originating from an often cordate base, milky sap in twigs and stems, and the presence of both lobed and unlobed leaves on the same tree.
Description
Morus alba, commonly known as the white mulberry, is a fast-growing small to medium-sized tree reaching heights of 30 to 50 feet. It features a rounded crown, twisting branches, and rough orange-brown bark. The tree produces inconspicuous green flowers in spring followed by juicy, aggregate syncarps (mulberries) that ripen from white to pinkish-red and finally dark purple or black. The leaves are notoriously polymorphic, often varying significantly in shape on the same tree from unlobed ovate forms to deeply lobed, mitten-like configurations.
Habitat
Thrives in disturbed areas, forest edges, urban environments, and along roadsides. Prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining soils, but is highly adaptable to poor soils and drought.
Native Range
Native to northern China and widely cultivated and naturalized across temperate and subtropical regions of North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.