Paper Mulberry (Tapa cloth tree)
Broussonetia papyrifera · Moraceae (Mulberry family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Ovate to cordate (heart-shaped), sometimes irregularly lobed
Margin
Serrate (coarsely toothed)
Arrangement
Alternate or sometimes subopposite
Venation
Pinnate and palmate blend, with prominent raised veins radiating from near the base and branching upward
Key Features
Variable leaf shape (unlobed and lobed on the same branch), coarsely serrate margins, densely hairy and rough-textured surfaces, and milky sap when the petiole or stem is broken
Description
The Paper Mulberry is a fast-growing, deciduous tree or large shrub known for its rounded crown and milky sap. It features variable leaves that can be simple and oval or deeply lobed. The bark is smooth and greyish-brown when young, becoming fibrous and ridged with age. In summer, it produces inconspicuous green flowers followed by globose, fleshy, orange-red compound fruits that are attractive to wildlife.
Habitat
Disturbed areas, forest edges, roadsides, and abandoned lots; thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts well to various soil types
Native Range
Native to temperate and tropical Asia (including China, Japan, and Korea); widely introduced and naturalized globally, often considered invasive in parts of North America and Europe