Morus mongolica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Morus mongolica var. rotundifolia
• Morus alba var. mongolica
• Morus mongolica var. pubescens
• Morus mongolica var. diabolica
• Morus mongolica var. hopeiensis
• Morus mongolica var. vestita
• Morus mongolica var. barkamensis
• Morus barkamensis
• Morus deqinensis
• Morus mongolica var. longicaudata

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Rosales and the family Moraceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Morus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and diverse geographical distribution throughout various regions of China. It can be found growing across the expansive landscapes of China North-Central and China South-Central. The species also inhabits the northern reaches of the country, specifically within Inner Mongolia and Manchuria. Furthermore, its presence extends into the more temperate climates of China Southeast. Together, these locations highlight the broad ecological range that Morus mongolica occupies within the nation.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Morus mongolica is characterized by its specific vertical distribution within montane ecosystems, where it occupies a distinct altitudinal niche. This species is primarily found across a specialized elevational range that begins at a minimum altitude of 800 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1500 m AMSL. Throughout its natural habitat, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1150 m AMSL, suggesting an ecological preference for mid-to-high altitude environments. This specific altitudinal positioning influences the environmental variables, such as temperature gradients and moisture availability, to which the species is adapted.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1150 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Morus mongolica is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a stable presence within its ecological niche. As a long-lived woody plant, it does not follow the rapid turnover of annuals or the intermediate cycle of biennials, instead investing energy into structural longevity and sustained reproductive capacity. Throughout its life cycle, the plant undergoes seasonal physiological changes, transitioning through periods of active growth and dormancy to survive fluctuating environmental conditions. Its perennial nature facilitates the development of an established root system and a robust canopy, enabling it to withstand seasonal stressors and contribute consistently to the local ecosystem over many years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Morus mongolica is characterized by its growth form as a shrub, exhibiting a robust and established structure. It is a woody plant, possessing permanent, lignified tissues that provide structural integrity to its stems. While it demonstrates certain climbing tendencies, it is classified as self-supporting, meaning it does not rely on external structures for its primary upward growth.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Morus mongolica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative structure is defined by distinct foliar dimensions, where the leaves exhibit a mean length of 11.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 15 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows significant variability, with a mean measurement of 6.5 cm, fluctuating between a minimum of 5 cm and a maximum of 8 cm. These morphological parameters reflect the plant's capacity for gas exchange and light interception within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

11.5 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Morus mongolica primarily involves the production of specialized fruit structures that facilitate seed dispersal. The plant develops characteristic fruits that exhibit highly consistent morphological dimensions, maintaining a uniform size across various specimens. Specifically, the fruit length is remarkably stable, with a mean value of 1.5 cm, which aligns perfectly with both the minimum and maximum recorded measurements of 1.5 cm. This lack of variance in fruit length suggests a highly standardized developmental process during the reproductive cycle, ensuring that each fruit reaches a precise dimension of 1.5 cm to optimize its role in the plant's life cycle and subsequent propagation.

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Morus mongolica has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CA, Flavonoids, SE.

CA

1. BMC plant biology

Flavonoids

1. BMC plant biology

SE

1. BMC plant biology