Tropical Plant "Black mulberry"
Morus nigra

Characteristics - The black mulberry is an exotic fruit bearer, native to China and Japan, widely cultivated in the south and southeast of Brazil, mainly to produce leaves for raising silkworms. It is a deciduous tree, usually dioeceous, 7-12 m tall. Leaves simple, char-taceous, glabrous on both surfaces, 6-12 cm long, the margins are variably lobed on young plants, lightly serrated on mature plants, with salient nerves and a glossy upper surface. Inflorescences unisexual, form in July and August along with the development of the new foliage, both males and females in pendulous aments (spikes), 3-6 cm long, the male ones being shorter. The fruits are compound drupes, cilindrical, in other words, they are infructescences, with a succulent texture and an sweet-acidic, pleasant flavor; they ripen in the spring.

Uses - The fruits are consumed in their natural state or they are made into sweets and jellies.

Propagation - Propagated by stem cuttings.