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June 29, 2012
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Southeastern, New Hampshire
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I had a hard time determining if this was White Mulberry (Morus alba)
or Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) since it seems to have some characteristics
of both. The front of the leaves were scabrous (rough to touch due to short,
stiff, appressed hairs) as found in Red Mulberry, but it was only slightly scabrouns
and slightly smooth. The front leaf surface was glossy as found in White Mulberry. The
back of the leaf had tufts of hairs along the major veins as found in White Mulberry.
Some of the fruit was whitish as found in White Mulberry (although it will be interesting
to see if those whitish fruits turn purple. White Mulberry can have some fruits
that are pink, purple and even black. Finally, red Mulberry is found mostly in Western
New England while White Mulberry throughout New England.
According to the Duke University
Red Mulberry web page, White Mulberry and Red Mulberry can often hybridize, resulting
in trees with intermediate characteristics. It is possible that this is a hybrid.
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