Vasilis Teodoridis:
Moraceae | Broussonetia
1. Broussonetia papyrifera (Linnaeus) L’Héritier ex Ventenat; Tabl. R?gn. Vég. 3: 547. 1799.
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Morus papyrifera Linnaeus; Sp. Pl. 2: 986. 1753; Smithiodendron artocarpioideum Hu.
Trees 10-20 m tall; flowers always produced on leafy stems; dioecious. Bark dark gray. Branchlets densely pubescent. Stipules ovate; 1.5-2 x 0.8-1 cm; apex attenuate. Leaves spirally arranged; petiole 2.3-8 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate to narrowly elliptic-ovate; simple or 3-5-lobed on young trees; 6-18 x 5-9 cm; abaxially densely pubescent but veins with coarser hairs; adaxially scabridulous and sparsely pubescent; base cordate and asymmetric; margin coarsely serrate; apex acuminate; secondary veins 6 or 7 on each side of midvein. Male inflorescences long spicate; 3-8 cm; bracts lanceolate; pubescent. Female inflorescences globose; bracts clavate; apically pubescent. Male flowers: calyx 4-lobed; lobes triangular-ovate and pubescent; anthers globose. Female flowers: calyx pipelike; lobes apically connate with style; ovary ovoid; stigma linear; pubescent. Syncarp orange-red when mature; 1.5-3 cm in diam.; mostly pubescent with scattered stout and ± barbed hairs; fleshy. Drupelets equal in length to peduncle; with 2 rows of small verruca; exocarp shell-like. Fl. Apr-May; fr. Jun-Jul.
Anhui; Fujian; Gansu; Guangdong; Guangxi; Guizhou; Hainan; Hebei; Henan; Hubei; Hunan; Jiangsu; Jiangxi; Shaanxi; Shandong; Shanxi; Sichuan; Taiwan; SE Xizang; Yunnan; Zhejiang [Cambodia; Japan; Korea; Laos; Malaysia; Myanmar; Sikkim; Thailand; Vietnam; Pacific Islands].
The bark fibers are used for making paper; the wood is used for furniture; and the leaves; fruit; and bark are used medicinally