Mulberry

Mulberry (桑树, sāngshù) is a genus (Morus) of deciduous trees in the mulberry family Moraceae, comprising on the order of ten species native to warm temperate and subtropical regions across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The most significant species in East Asia are the white mulberry (Morus alba), native to northern China, and the black mulberry (Morus nigra), introduced from western Asia. Mulberry trees are fast-growing, reaching 10-15 meters in height, with heart-shaped leaves and aggregate fruits that resemble blackberries.

Mulberry leaves are the exclusive food source of the silkworm (Bombyx mori, 蚕, cán), making the tree the literal foundation of the sericulture industry. The white mulberry (Morus alba) is preferred for silkworm rearing because its tender leaves provide optimal nutrition for larval development. An estimated 6,000-10,000 silkworms require one mature mulberry tree to complete their life cycle, producing approximately 1 kilogram of raw silk. This relationship between mulberry, silkworm, and silk production (蚕桑, cánsāng) has shaped Chinese civilization for over 5,000 years.

The cultural significance of the mulberry tree in Chinese civilization cannot be overstated. The ancient practice of sericulture—domesticated silkworms feeding on mulberry leaves—was considered so valuable that its secrets were guarded for millennia, giving rise to the legendary Silk Road (丝绸之路, sīchóu zhī lù) trade network. In classical Chinese poetry, the mulberry tree often appears as a symbol of rural life, home, and agricultural abundance. The phrase "桑梓" (sāngzǐ, literally "mulberry and catalpa") became a classical metaphor for one's native village or homeland.

Beyond sericulture, mulberries produce sweet, nutrient-dense fruits rich in vitamin C, iron, and resveratrol. The fruits are eaten fresh, dried, or made into wine, jam, and traditional medicinal preparations. In traditional Chinese medicine, mulberry leaves (桑叶, sāngyè) are used to treat colds, fever, and eye inflammation, while the fruit (桑葚, sāngshèn) is prescribed as a blood tonic. The tree's bark (桑白皮, sāng bái pí) is used to treat cough and edema. Mulberry wood is also valued for its durability and used in furniture making and sporting goods.