Digital Garden

Morus alba

Shahtoot, white mulberry, common mulberry and silkworm mulberry 

Scientific Name- Morus alba 

Common Name- Shahtoot, white mulberry, common mulberry and silkworm mulberry 

Family – Moraceae 

Habit type – tree 

Leaves 

Glossy leaves are either lobed or without lobes. The upper surface is hairless or rough with small raised dots, while the lower surface is hairless or hairy along the veins. 

Bark 

Immature bark and inner bark is bright orange, while mature bark is grey and irregularly fissured. The heartwood is yellow or yellowish-brown, darkening to golden or red-brown upon exposure; it is sharply demarcated from up to 4cm wide band of white or pale yellow sapwood. The texture is moderately coarse; the grain straight; the wood lustrous at first, becoming dull with age, with an attractive silver grain. The wood is light to moderately heavy, hard, durable. 

Flower 

Male and female flowers occur on separate individuals. Small, green male flowers are arranged in an inflorescence known as 

a catkin (2.5-5 cm long), while tiny female flowers are arranged in a spike inflorescence. 

Fruit 

Fleshy fruits are known as berries. Black, pink or white fruits are oblong. 

FACTS & MEDICINAL USES 

● Inner bark - roasted and ground into a meal then used as a thickener in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread. 

● Young shoots can be used as a tea substitute 

● The tree can be grown as a part of a shelterbelt 

● Various parts of the plant are used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations as antioxidants, astringents, bleaching agents, humectants and skin conditioners 

● The wood of the mulberry is a potentially excellent source of ethanol.