Vasilis Teodoridis:
Moraceae | Morus
11. Morus australis Poiret in Desrousseaux et al.; Encycl. 4: 380. 1797.
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Morus acidosa Griffith; M. alba Linnaeus var. indica Bureau; M. alba var. nigriformis Bureau; M. alba var. stylosa Bureau; M. australis var. hastifolia (F. T. Wang & T. Tang ex Z. Y. Cao) Z. Y. Cao; M. australis var. incisa C. Y. Wu; M. australis var. inusitata (H. Léveillé) C. Y. Wu; M. australis var. linearipartita Z. Y. Cao; M. australis var. oblongifolia Z. Y. Cao; M. bombycis Koidzumi; M. bombycis var. angustifolia Koidzumi; M. bombycis var. bifida Koidzumi; M. bombycis var. longistyla Koidzumi; M. bombycis var. tiliifolia Koidzumi; M. cavaleriei H. Léveillé; M. formosensis Hotta; M. hastifolia F. T. Wang & T. Tang ex Z. Y. Cao; M. inusitata H. Léveillé; M. longistyla Diels; M. nigriformis (Bureau) Koidzumi; M. stylosa Seringe var. ovalifolia Seringe.
Small trees or shrubs. Bark grayish brown. Winter buds conic to ovoid; large. Stipules linear-lanceolate. Petiole 1-1.5 cm; pubescent; leaf blade lanceolate to broadly ovate; simple or (2 or)3-5-lobed; lobes rounded to linear; 5-14 x 1-12 cm; abaxially sparsely covered with thick hairs; adaxially scabrous and densely covered with short hairs; base cuneate to cordate; margin serrate or entire and without subulate apiculum or seta; apex acute to caudate. Male catkins 1-1.5 cm; pubescent. Female inflorescences globose; ca. 1 cm; densely white pubescent; peduncle short. Male flowers: calyx lobes green; ovate; anther yellow. Female flowers: calyx lobes dark green; oblong; style long; stigma 2-branched; abaxially pubescent. Syncarp red to dark purple when mature; shortly cylindric; ca. 1 cm in diam. Fl. Mar-Apr; fr. Apr-May.
Limestone areas; forest margins; mountain slopes; fallow land; scrub in valleys; 500-2000 m. Anhui; Fujian; Gansu; Guangdong; Guangxi; Hainan; Hebei; Henan; Hubei; Hunan; Jiangsu; Jiangxi; Liaoning; Shaanxi; Shandong; Shanxi; Sichuan; Taiwan; SE Xizang; Yunnan; Zhejiang [Bhutan; India; Japan; Korea; Myanmar; Nepal; Sikkim].
This species is closely related to Morus indica Linnaeus; and some authors have considered them conspecific. Varieties have been recognized on the basis of differences in leaf form; particularly the degree of division. Deeply divided leaves are characteristic of juvenile growth in a number of genera in the Moraceae and other families; and it does not seem advisable to give such material formal names; at least without more detailed population studies.
The bark fibers are used for making paper and the fruit are edible.