Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Her. ex Vent., Tabl. Regn. Veg. 3: 547 (1799)
Name meaning 'producing paper', referring to the use of the bark to make paper.Synonyms
Broussonetia billardii Carruth.
Broussonetia cordata Blume
Broussonetia cordata K.Koch [Invalid]
Broussonetia cucullata Steud. [Invalid]
Broussonetia dissecta Bureau
Broussonetia elegans K.Koch
Broussonetia kasii Dippel
Broussonetia kazi Siebold ex Blume
Broussonetia maculata Steud.
Broussonetia nana Bureau
Broussonetia navicularis Lodd. ex Bureau
Broussonetia navicularis Lodd. ex K.Koch
Broussonetia navifolia Steud. [Invalid]
Broussonetia papyrifera var. integrifolia Miq.
Broussonetia spathulata Steud.
Broussonetia tricolor K.Koch
Morus papyrifera L.
Papyrius japonica Lam.
Papyrius papyrifera (L.) Kuntze
Papyrius polimorphus Cav.
Smithiodendron artocarpioideum Hu
Streblus cordatus Lour.
Trophis cordata Poir.
Description
Trees 10-20 m tall, flowers always produced on leafy stems; dioecious. Bark dark gray. Branchlets densely pubescent. Stipules ovate, 1.5-2 ¡Á 0.8-1 cm,
apex attenuate. Leaves spirally arranged; petiole 2.3-8 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate to narrowly elliptic-ovate, simple or 3-5-lobed on young trees,
6-18 ¡Á 5-9 cm, abaxially densely pubescent but veins with coarser hairs, adaxially scabridulous and sparsely pubescent, base cordate and asymmetric,
margin coarsely serrate, apex acuminate; secondary veins 6 or 7 on each side of midvein. Male inflorescences long spicate, 3-8 cm; bracts lanceolate,
pubescent. Female inflorescences globose; bracts clavate, apically pubescent. Male flowers: calyx 4-lobed, lobes triangular-ovate and pubescent;
anthers globose. Female flowers: calyx pipelike, lobes apically connate with style; ovary ovoid; stigma linear, pubescent. Syncarp orange-red
when mature, 1.5-3 cm in diam., mostly pubescent with scattered stout and ¡À barbed hairs, fleshy. Drupelets equal in length to peduncle, with 2
rows of small verruca; exocarp shell-like. [from flora of China]
Ecology
Common in open, disturbed places and wasteland. Fast growing.
Uses
The bark fibers are used for making paper, the wood is used for furniture, and the leaves, fruit, and bark are used medicinally.
Distribution
Pakistan, northern India, Southern China, Japan, Korea, Indochina, Malaysia, western Indonesia. Invasive in Southeastern USA and southern Europe.
Local names
China: Gou shu.
English: Paper mulberry.
