black mulberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Black Mulberry
• Persian mulberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Morus nigra var. dentata
• Morus petiolaris
• Morus nigra var. laciniata
• Morus siciliana
• Morus laciniata
• Morus cretica
• Morus nigra var. lobata
• Morus nigra var. microcarpa
• Morus nigra var. scabra

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Morus nigra, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Rosales. Finally, it is a member of the family Moraceae and falls under the genus Morus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a varied geographical distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be identified within the borders of Great Britain. Moving toward the Mediterranean, it is found throughout Southwestern Europe, specifically in Spain. The species also extends into Southeastern Europe, where it inhabits the landscapes of Albania and Bulgaria. Finally, its range reaches further south to include the country of Greece.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Morus nigra is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse topographical landscapes, spanning an elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL. While it can be found in various natural environments, it is frequently documented within anthropogenic habitats, such as a garden, where it thrives under managed conditions. This wide altitudinal distribution allows the species to occupy a variety of ecological niches, ranging from lowland coastal areas to higher montane regions.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

garden

Life history

The life history of Morus nigra is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its buds are borne on aerial shoots well above the ground, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit and survival strategy. This species exhibits a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its leaves annually in response to seasonal changes, which helps it manage resources during dormant periods. Through these integrated biological traits, the plant establishes a long-term presence in its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Morus nigra is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a tree or a shrub. As a terrestrial plant, it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its physical structure, the species is self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or vine. The plant reaches significant vertical dimensions, with a height ranging from a minimum of 5 m to a maximum of 15 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 9.33 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

9.33333333333333 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Morus nigra is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant features an alternate leaf arrangement, with leaf morphology that can be distinctly lobe-shaped. The foliar dimensions exhibit significant variability, with leaf lengths typically averaging 9 cm, ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 15 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a mean of 9 cm, fluctuating between a minimum of 7 cm and a maximum of 11 cm. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil nitrogen availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to support its physiological development.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

lobed

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

11 cm

Leaf width mean:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

7 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Morus nigra is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins and concludes around May, with an inflorescence that can reach a maximum length of 0.025 m. The plant is capable of self-fertilization, leading to the development of fleshy, indehiscent fruits categorized as an achene (specifically a multiple fruit structure). These fruits are distinctively black in color and vary in length, with a mean measurement of 2.25 cm, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. The dispersal of the plant's offspring follows a zoochorous syndrome, often involving anthropochorous mechanisms. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit specific physical properties, including a mean seed mass of 0.00252 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00164 g to a maximum of 0.007 g) and a mean seed volume of 13.7 mm³, with volumes spanning from 7.4 mm³ to a maximum of 20 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

May

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.25 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Inflorescence length max:

0.025 m

Seed mass max:

0.007 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00252 g

Seed mass min:

0.00164 g

Seed volume max:

20 mm³

Seed volume mean:

13.7 mm³

Seed volume min:

7.4 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Morus nigra has 4 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Pharmacology
3. Natural product research
4. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Fruit

1. Pharmacology
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Research in pharmaceutical sciences

Root

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Stem

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Morus nigra has 40 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, ANTHOCYANIN, CHLOROGENIC ACID, RUTIN, Anthocyanins.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. International journal of clinical and experimental medicine
5. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in dentistry
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Molecular biology reports
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

RUTIN

1. Molecular biology reports
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anthocyanins

1. Pharmacology
2. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Isoquercetin

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Morusin

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Albafuran C

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Albanin A

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Albanin E

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Activities

Morus nigra has 16 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antinociceptive, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic.

Antioxidant

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Nutrients
5. Current drug discovery technologies

Antinociceptive

1. Pharmacology
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
3. Nutrients

Antibacterial

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Pharmacology
2. Nutrients

Antidiabetic

1. Pharmacology
2. Nutrients

Antimicrobial

1. Nutrients
2. Current drug discovery technologies

Hepatoprotective

1. Pharmacology
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hypoglycemic

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hypolipidemic

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Medicinal Uses

Morus nigra has 35 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations