Morus nigra, called black mulberry or blackberry (not to be confused with the blackberries that are various species of Rubus), is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae that is native to southwestern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula, where it has been cultivated for so long that its precise natural range is unknown. The black mulberry is known for its large number of chromosomes, 308 (44x ploidy).
Sometimes other mulberry species are confused with black mulberry, particularly black-fruited individuals of the white mulberry. Black mulberry may be distinguished from the other species by the uniformly hairy lower surface of its leaves. Mulberry fruit color derives from anthocyanins.
Description
Morus nigra is a deciduous tree growing to 12 m (39 ft) tall by 15 m (49 ft) broad. The leaves are 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long by 6–10 cm (2–4 in) broad – up to 23 cm (9 in) long on vigorous shoots, downy on the underside, the upper surface rough with very short, stiff hairs. It has 308 chromosomes.
The edible fruit is a compound cluster of several small drupes that are dark purple, almost black when ripe, and they are 2–3 centimetres (0.8–1.2 in) long. Black mulberry is richly flavoured, similar to the red mulberry (Morus rubra) rather than the more insipid fruit of the white mulberry (Morus alba).
Cultivation and uses
Black mulberries (Morus nigra) are thought to have originated in the mountainous areas of Mesopotamia and Persia. Black mulberry is planted, and often naturalised, west across much of Europe, including Ukraine, and east into China. Now they are widespread throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, India, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, and Turkey.
The tree has long been cultivated for its edible fruit. Both the tree and the fruit are known by the Persian-derived names toot (mulberry) or shahtoot (شاه توت) (king’s or “superior” mulberry), or, in Arabic, as shajarat tukki. Often, jams and sherbets are made from the fruit in this region.
In Europe, the largest-documented local concentration of black mulberries may be found in the vineyards of Pukanec in Slovakia, which contain 470 black mulberry trees.
The black mulberry was imported into Britain in the seventeenth century in the hope that it would be useful in the cultivation of silkworms (Bombyx mori). It was unsuccessful in that enterprise because silkworms prefer the white mulberry. However, the plantings have left a legacy of large and old trees in many country house gardens and it was listed in the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society until 2013. It was much used in folk medicine, especially in the treatment of ringworm.
Black mulberry, common mulberry, small-fruited mulberry, sycamine [English]; swartmoerbei [Afrikaans], hei sang, mûrier noir, mûrier à petits fruits [French], schwarzer maulbeerbaum [German], amoreira negra [Portuguese], moral negro, morera negra [Spanish]; Itim na moras [Tagalog]; Kara dut [Turkish]; dâu tằm đen [Vietnamese]; توت أسود [Arabic]; Թթենի սև [Armenian]; 黑桑 [Chinese]; شاهتوت [Farsi]; תות שחור [Hebrew]; Шелковица чёрная [Russian]
Black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) is is a small deciduous tree cultivated worldwide, mainly for its edible fruits. Its leaves, like those of the white mulberry (Morus alba L.) can be used to feed silkworms but the silk is of lesser quality. The leaves are used as cattle fodder.
Morphology
Black mulberry is a dark green coloured deciduous shrub, medium-sized tree, growing up to 6-9 (-15-35) m in height which has a broad, dense spreading crown. The trunk is short. The leaves are petiolate, leathery (scabrous on the upper face and pubescent on the lower), large (5-16 x 5-16 cm), variable in shape: whole or palmately lobate. The leaf blades are assymetrical, broadly ovate, deeply cordiform at the base and shortly acuminate on top, obtusely dentate along the edge. Flowers are small, unattractive, clustered in catkin-like inflorescences. Fruits are 1.5-2.5cm in length and 3 cm in diameter, black, glossy, sweetish sour, juicy, and very tasty.
Compared to the white mulberry, the black mulberry tree is shorter, with a smaller and more regular crown. Its shoots and branches have a bright yellow colour. The fruits of Morus nigra ripen earlier and are smaller, juicier, and tastier than those of Morus alba.
Uses
Black mulberry is mainly cultivated for its edible fruits that are edible and are the best-flavoured of those produced by Morus species. The purple-black berries are large and juicy, with a good balance of sweetness and tartness. The ripe fruit contains about 9% sugar, with malic and citric acid. Berries can be eaten raw or dried, or used in pies, tarts, puddings, conserves, jams, or sweetened and pureed as a sauce; slightly unripe fruit is best for pies and tarts. The fruit is sometimes pounded to a fine powder and mixed with the flour for bread. They can be blended with other fruits like pears and apples. Leaves are used as feed for silkworms, but result in coarser silk than those obtained with worms fed white mulberry. Rather, they are used to feed rabbits and cattle and small ruminants are known to browse on black mulberry. The wood of black mulberry is very hard and good for woodcraft. The bark is used to produce cardboard, paper and rope. Black mulberry is reported to have several medicinal properties.
Black mulberry originates from western Asia (Iran and Afghanistan). It is cultivated in the Mediterranean area (Balkans, Italy) since ancient times. Black mulberry is now naturalized and cultivated worldwide. It has been introduced to Malaysia and West Africa. Morus nigra is grown in Europe up to southern Scandinavia. It is referred to as an invasive species in Parana state in Brazil.
Black mulberry is particularly suited for places with hot and dry summers but is also cultivated in tropical humid regions, above 1000 m and up to 2000 m altitude and in areas where annual rainfall is between 500 and 2000 mm with a dry period of 2 to 6 months. It is less cold-hardy than other mulberry species but it requires a short chilling period and can withstand temperatures down to -10°C. Morus nigra does better on rich, well-drained soils with neutral or slightly alkaline pH, and in full-light, wind-sheltered environment. For cultivation, it is recommended to avoid shallow, chalk or gravelly soils. However, it tolerates infertile soils and can occur on stony and turfy slopes, and along riversides. It can escape from cultivation. Black mulberry is somewhat shade resitant and drought resistant.
Black mulberry can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. It is a fast growing species that requires light and adequate space (at least 4.5 m between each tree). It is reported to take time to fruit (15 years in the UK). Black mulberry is prone to bleeding when it is cut, and it is recommended to avoid pruning the tree heavily except for removing dead wood and thinning branches. Pruning should be done while the tree is dormant and cuts should be of less than 5 cm in diameter since the plant do not heal over
When black mulberry is propagated by seeds, the seeds should be used immediately after fruit ripening and should be cold-scarified prior to sowing. The seedlings should be planted in late spring or early summer when the soils warms up and after the last expected frosts. Black mulberry is a long-lived tree that can be rejuvenated through careful pruning and cultivation
When black mulberry is propagated by cuttings, cuttings with one bud should be taken from half-ripe wood or mature wood and buried at 3/4 of their length in the soil, in a sheltered position so that they can root readily. It is reported that black mulberry does not propagate vegetatively as easily as white mulberry.
Agroforestry
Black mulberry can be used in agroforestry as a windbreak, live fence, shelter or shade tree.
Birds “trap”
Black mulberry is sometimes planted near cherry trees, so that the birds, which are fond of mulberries, do not come and eat the cherries.
Invasive weed
Outside its native range, black mulberry is referred to as a weed in Spain, southeastern Australian bush land, and South Africa, and as an invasive species in Brazil This invasiveness is attributed to several traits: longevity, rapid growth, tolerance to droughts, ability to grow on tinfertile and rocky soil, resistance to cold, easy seed dispersal by birds and other animals attracted to its sweet, edible fruits. It is prone to escape from cultivation.
