Morus nigra Black Mulberry
Family
Moraceae
Genus
Morus [MOR-us]
ancient L. name for mulberry
Species
nigra [NEE-gra]
black
Morus nigra, called black mulberry or blackberry (not to be confused with the
blackberries which are various species of Rubus), is a species of flowering plant in the
family Moraceae, native to southwestern Asia, where it has been cultivated for so long
that its precise natural range is unknown. It is known for its large number of
chromosomes, as it has 154 pairs (308 individuals). Other mulberry species are sometimes
confused with black mulberry, particularly black-fruited individuals of the white
mulberry, but black mulberry can be distinguished by the uniformly hairy lower leaf
surface.