Thread: Need Tree ID
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Old 16-02-2004, 09:53 PM
Monique Reed
 
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Default Need Tree ID

This looks very much like Morus alba (white mulberry) or Morus rubra
(red mulberry). Either may have lobed or unlobed leaves. M. rubra has
leaves mostly softly hairy underneath, while M. alba is essentially
bald. (If it's really, really, really hairy, check against
Broussonettia, paper mulbery.) M. alba is introduced and naturalized
in the U.S.; M. rubra is listed as native. M. alba, at least, can get
to be a nice large shade tree. Both species have separate male and
female plants. Male plants will produce pendulous "caterpillars"
(catkins) of pollen-producing flowers; female plants may produce
edible fruit if there's a pollinating plant near enough. On the off
chance your plant is female red mulberry, don't plant it near your car
park or clothesline--birds like to feast on the fruit and the area
under the nearest roost is often rather permanently purple
polka-dotted.

Monique Reed
Texas A&M

Darren Garrison wrote:

This tree is growing on the fringes of my property, and I would like to know what it is. These
photos were taken last July, when I found it. It was around 10ish feet tall at the time. The
largest leaves are on the order of 10 inches wide, and can have one, two, or three lobes. I'd like
to, if possble, move it to a better spot, where I can see it and where it won't be choked to death
by vines (I just took a look at it today and removed some vines that had cut deep grooves into the
trunk). I am in South Carolina, but I have no idea if it is a native plant or not.

http://webpages.charter.net/garrison6328/tree.html