The genus Morus, as treated here, comprises 19 species of which 9 are currently included in this database. It has been proposed (Zeng Q et al, (2015) Definition of Eight Mulberry Species in the Genus Morus by Internal Transcribed SpacerBased Phylogeny. PLoS ONE 10(8): e0135411.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135411) that there are only eight distinct species in this genus. If this treatment is accepted then this species will no longer be considered distinct, but to be part of Morus alba.

Common Name: Himalayan Mulberry

General Information

Morus macroura is a deciduous tree with a dense crown; it usually grows from 7 - 20 metres tall, with reports of some trees reaching 35 metres in Thailand[, , , ]. The bole can be 10 - 20cm in diameter in one report[], and up to 60cm according to another[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes cultivated for its edible fruit[], and is planted as a pioneer species in reforestation projects in Thailand[]. The dried fruit is sold in local markets[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Mountain forests and tropical forests; at elevations from 300 - 2, 200 metres but mainly at 1,000 - 1,300 metres[]. Open hillsides; at elevations from 1,000 - 2,000 metres in Nepal[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A very adaptable species, it can be grown from the warm temperate zone through to the tropics. Trees can be very cold tolerant, with some dormant plants reported to tolerate temperatures down to -10°c[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Prefers a deep, fertile, moist soil, but the plant is fairly adaptable[, ].
A fast-growing tree[].
A very long-lived tree, able to fruit productively for several hundred years[, ].
Plants can be slow to come into fruiting when grown from seed, often taking several years[].
Mulberries have brittle roots and so need to be handled with care when planting them out[].
Any pruning should only be carried out in the winter when the plant is fully dormant because mulberries bleed badly when cut[]. Ideally prune only badly placed branches and dead wood[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. Dry and insipid[]. Sweetish [] when fully ripe[, ]. The good forms are tasty[]. The fruit can be dried[].The aggregate fruits (syncarp) varies in colour when ripe from yellowish-white to almost black. It can be 6 - 12cm long[, ].

Medicinal

The juice of the bark is applied to cuts and wounds[, ].

Thr fresh fruit is used as a tonic and also to treat throat irritations[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is planted as a pioneer species in northern Thailand in reforestation projects to restore native woodland - it is planted in degraded woodland and open areas in a mix with various other species that all have the ability to grow fast; produce dense, weed-suppressing crowns; and attract seed-dispersing wildlife, particularly birds and bats[].

Other Uses

The fibres in the bark are used for making paper[].

Both the wood and the leaves are sources of dyes[].

The wood is hard, close grained with a beautiful lustre. It is easy to work and bends well when steamed. It is used for making furniture, curved structures, construction, agricultural tools etc[, , ].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

The seed germinates best if given 2 - 3 months cold stratification[, ]. Sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if possible, otherwise in late winter in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates in the first spring, though it sometimes takes another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame. Plant out in spring. A good percentage take, though they sometimes fail to thrive[, ].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 25 - 30cm with a heel of 2 year old wood, autumn or early spring in a cold frame or a shady bed outside[, , ]. Bury the cuttings to threequarters of their depth.
Layering in autumn[].