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Sturla, Gene

Morus microphylla

Morus microphylla Buckley

Texas Mulberry, Littleleaf Mulberry, Mountain Mulberry, Mexican Mulberry, Dwarf Mulberry

Moraceae (Mulberry Family)

Synonym(s): Morus confinis, Morus crataegifolia, Morus grisea, Morus radulina

USDA Symbol: momi

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Shrub or small tree with smooth, light gray bark. Leaves smaller than those of red and white mulberry; blades up to 2 1/2 inches long, roughly ovate, frequently lobed, with toothed margins, an extended tip, and rounded or slightly lobed base. Flowers inconspicuous, in short, drooping clusters. Fruit a cluster of minute, fleshy, berrylike fruits varying from red to black, ripening in May, edible.

From the Image Gallery

61 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual
Fruit Type: Achene , Aggregate
Size Notes: Up to about 25 feet tall.
Fruit: Syncarps, red, purple or black.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Green
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , OK , TX
Native Distribution: Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona south through Mexico as far as Costa Rica
Native Habitat: Hillsides, Slopes, Canyons

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Caliche type, Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Igneous

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Attractive, Fruits ornamental
Use Wildlife: Cover, Nesting site, Fruit-mammals, Fruit-birds, Browse
Use Other: One of a number of species whose bark was used to make amate, bark paper.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds
Deer Resistant: No

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			FACU			UPL				FACU

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0719 Collected Mar 27,1994 in Comal County by Mary Beth White

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Bibliography

Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.
Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 297 - Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Morus microphylla in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Morus microphylla in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Morus microphylla

Metadata

Record Modified: 2025-02-13
Research By: TWC Staff

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