Mulberry is genus of deciduous trees in the family Moraceae, altogether with paper mulberry (Broussonetia), fig tree genus (Ficus) and osage orange tree genus (Maclura). Mulberry is growing in various regions located between 50º N Lat. and 10º S Lat. including Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Africa at a wide altitude ranging from sea level to as high as 4000 m.
The number of species in the Morus genus varies a lot, considering different authors and distinguishing methods (genetic markers, morphology) – between 60 and 150 different species. However even interploidy crossings and polyploidy is quite common which makes systematics of mulberries even more challenging. Most generally recognisable and accepted is 10-16 species. Amongst those species M. alba, M. latifolia, M. mutlicaulis are cultivated for leaves, while M. nigra is popular for fruit production and M. serrata for wood. White mulberry (Morus alba L.) is most appropriate for feeding silkworms Bombyx mori L. (Vijayan in sod. 2014).
Red, white and black mulberry fruits:
Photo: Johannes Rabensteiner
Distribution of mulberry trees in Slovenia has been quite unknown so far. We have already found around 600 white mulberry trees and only 6 black mulberry trees during our project researches so far. Red mulberry has not been found yet. Detailed distribution maps are shown at individual species tabs above.