Broussonetia papyrifera |
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paper-mulberry, wauke |
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Habit | Trees, to 15 m. |
Bark | tan, smooth or moderately furrowed. |
Branchlets | brown, spreading pubescent. |
Leaves | blade entire or 3-5-lobed, 6-20 × 5-15 cm, base shallowly cordate, often oblique, truncate, or broadly rounded, margins serrate, apex acuminate; surfaces abaxially densely gray-pubescent, adaxially scabrous. |
Staminate flowers | sepals pubescent. |
Pistillate flowers | style elongate-filiform. |
Terminal | bud absent, axillary buds dark brown, short-pubescent; leaf scars nearly circular, somewhat elevated. |
Staminate | inflorescences 6-8 cm; peduncle 2-4 cm. |
Pistillate | inflorescences ca. 2 cm diam., villous. |
Syncarps | globose, 2-3 cm diam.; drupes red or orange, oblanceolate, each exserted from its calyx. |
Broussonetia papyrifera |
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Phenology | Flowering spring. |
Habitat | Disturbed thickets |
Elevation | 0-600 m [0-2000 ft] |
Distribution |
AL; AR; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; IA; IL; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; MO; MS; NC; NE; NJ; NY; OK; PA; RI; SC; TN; TX; VA; WV; native to Asia [Introduced in North America]
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Discussion | Broussonetia papyrifera is now widely naturalized in eastern United States. Frequently planted as a shade tree around dwellings, it is often considered undesirable because of its aggressiveness, shallow root system, and soft, brittle wood. The bark of the tree is used to produce a barkcloth. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 3. |
Parent taxa | |
Synonyms | Morus papyrifera, Papyrius papyrifera |
Name authority | (Linnaeus) Ventenat: Tabl. Règn. Vég. 3: 547. (1799) |
Web links |