Morus nigra L.
| Kannada Name : | Tuti, tool |
| Common Name : | Black mulberry |
| Family Name : | Moraceae |
| Scientific Name : | Morus nigra |
| Species Type : | Exotic |
| Phenology : | Deciduous |
| Conservation Status : | Not known |
| Flowering Period : | May - June |
| Fruiting Period : | August - September |
| Origin : | Southwestern Asia |
Uses
The plant is analgesic, emollient, sedative. The leaves are antibacterial, astringent, diaphoretic, hypoglycaemic, odontalgic and ophthalmic. They are taken internally in the treatment of colds, influenza, eye infections and nosebleeds. The stems are antirheumatic, diuretic, hypotensive and pectoral. A tincture of the bark is used to relieve toothache
Description
Small to medium, deciduous, monoecious or dioecious tree, up to 10 m tall. Bark dark brown, fissured, rough; twigs reddish-brown, densely hairy. Leaves simple, alternate, broadly ovate, unlobed, sometimes 2-5 lobed, abaxially pale green, shortly pubescent, and tomentose, adaxially dark green and coarse, base cordate, apex acute to shortly acuminate, margin regularly and coarsely serrate. Inflorescence a catkin. Male catkins cylindric, pubescent. Female catkins ellipsoid, short peduncle, pubescent. Fruit a sorosis, ovoid-oblong, dark purple to black, strongly acidic until mature.
