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Mulberry tree – edible wild plant – how to find, identify, prepare, and other uses for survival.

Mulberry tree fruit and a silkworm

How to identify Mulberry trees (Morus species)

The Mulberry tree has alternate, simple, often lobed leaves with rough surfaces.  The tree rarely grows over 33-49 feet tall.  The leaves are alternately arranged, simple, often lobed, and serrated on the edges, and typically rough on top.   The flowers are held on short, green nondescript catkins.

Its fruits are blue or black and many-seeded (i.e., multiple fruit) about 1 inch long.  When immature, the fruits are white or green to pale yellow with pink edges.  When ripe, the fruits are red, then dark purple, then black.

Where to Find Mulberry trees

Mulberry trees are found in forests, along roadsides, and in abandoned fields in temperate and tropical zones of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.  They prefer warm, well-drained soil.

One of the best places to find mulberry trees in the wild is along the banks of rivers and streams. These trees thrive in moist soil, and are often found growing near water sources. Look for them in areas with plenty of sunlight and good drainage.

Another place to look for mulberry trees is in parks and other public green spaces. Many cities and towns have planted Mulberry trees in their parks and along their streets, and they can often be found growing wild in these areas as well.

Edible Parts of Mulberry trees

Mulberries are edible. The fruit is edible raw or cooked. It can be dried for eating later.  The fruit is sweet and in some eastern varieties, very strong.  Unripe fruit (and the green parts of the tree) have a white sap that is intoxicating and mildly hallucinogenic and causes stomach pain and nausea.

The young, unopened leaves (cooked) and inner bark are edible in the White Mulberry Tree variety.  Once the leaves have matured and opened, they are toxic and no longer edible.  Rinse the leaves and then boil for 20 minutes.

Other Uses for Mulberry trees

You can shred the inner bark of the tree and use it to make twine or cord. Other uses for Mulberry trees include:

Using Mulberry trees for silk production

Mulberry leaves are the primary source of food for silkworms. These leaves are rich in protein, making them an ideal food source for silkworms. As such, mulberry trees are grown in large numbers in countries that produce silk.

Using Mulberry trees as a source for medicine

Mulberry trees have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Various parts of the tree, including the leaves, bark, and root, have been used to treat a wide range of ailments, including fever, coughs, and sore throats.

Using Mulberry trees for lumber

Mulberry wood is prized for its strength, durability, and beautiful grain patterns. As such, it is used in the production of furniture, flooring, and other wood products.

Mulberry Tree Honey Production

Mulberry trees produce a nectar that is rich in sugars, making it an ideal food source for bees. As such, they are often used in beekeeping to produce honey.

Mulberry tree picture gallery

Image Credits

In-Article Image Credits

Mulberry tree and fruit via Wikimedia Commons by Emma YSU with usage type - Creative Commons License. May 20, 2021
Mulberry tree branch and leaves via Wikimedia Commons by GodeNehler with usage type - Creative Commons License. June 22, 2019
35 year old Mulberry (Morus sp.) via Wikimedia Commons by Mike Dickison with usage type - Creative Commons License. November 27, 2019
Weeping Mulberry from the General catalogue of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs, roses etc. (1897) via Old Dominion Nurseries with usage type - Public Domain. 1897
Everbearing Mulberry from the General catalogue of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs, roses etc. (1897) via Old Dominion Nurseries with usage type - Public Domain. 1897
Mulberry tree bark via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. November 23, 2019
Mulberry tree leaves stems via Wikimedia Commons by Bautsch with usage type - Creative Commons License. July 4, 2021
Mulberry tree fruit and a silkworm via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License
Mulberry tree in United Kingdom via Wikimedia Commons by Kokai with usage type - Creative Commons License. June 9, 2004
Mulberry tree fruit via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. October 14, 2017
Mulberry fruit ripe and mid-ripe via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. May 27, 2022
White Mulberry tree fruit via Wikimedia Commons by Petru Dimitriu with usage type - Public Domain
Immature mulberry tree fruit and leaves closeup via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. April 21, 2022
Mulberry tree flower clusters via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License. March 6, 2008
Mulberry tree female flowers via Wikimedia Commons by JJ Harrison with usage type - GNU Free. April 10, 2008
Red mulberry tree fruit via Wikimedia Commons by Jean-Pol Grandmont with usage type - GNU Free. 2007

Featured Image Credit

Mulberry tree fruit and a silkworm via Wikimedia Commons with usage type - Creative Commons License

 

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