Morus rubra
Red Mulberry
Family Moraceae
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Use
Jam, Beverages, Cooked. The berry can be used to make jam or a cold drink. The early shoots can be collected and boiled.
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Description
Growth Form: Tree growing up to 70 ft.
Leaves: Fine-toothed 3-6 inches. Sandpapery and hairy underneath. 3 leaf types: 0 lobes, 1 lobe (mitten), or 2 lobes (maple-like). Tip can be pointed to blunt.
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Leaves
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Bark
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Bark: Sap is milky. Red-brown bark with smooth ridges.
Fruits: Pendant and blackberry-like. Red at first, but turns purple when ripe.
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Habitat and Range
Rich soil, open forest. From Northeastern Canada south and west as far as Texas.
Season
Shoots harvested in the spring. Fruit harvested in the summer.
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Leaves
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Whole Plant
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Fun Facts
Warning: Un-ripened fruit and raw shoots contain hallucinogens.
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