mulberry

Any of several deciduous trees of the genus Morus, having unisexual flowers in drooping catkins and edible usually purple fruit.

The sweet fruit of any of these trees.

A grayish to dark purple.

The berrylike collective fruit of the mulberry-tree.

Any tree of the genus Mortis. The black mulberry, M. nigra, native somewhere in western Asia, has been known in Europe from antiquity. It yields a pleasant dark-colored fruit, and its leaves were formerly in extensive use for feeding silkworms. The white mulberry, M. alba, introduced from China much later, has almost superseded the black in silkworm-culture. It has been to some extent introduced into the United States. The red mulberry, M. rubra, a native of the United States, is the largest species of the genus. Its wood, which is very durable in contact with the soil, is used for posts, and for cooperage, ship- and boat-building, etc. Its leaves are less valued for silk-production than those of the other species, but its fruit is excellent. The Mexican mulberry, extending into Texas, etc., is M. microphylla.

One of several plants of other genera.

In embryology, a mulberry-mass or mulberry-germ; a morula. See cut under gastrulation.

Relating to the mulberry (the tree or its fruit); having the shape or color of a mulberry (fruit).

The berry or fruit of any tree of the genus Morus; also, the tree itself. See morus.