Contorted mulberry

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Morus australis Poir. © CFH Nature Museum

Identification

Fibre type	Bast fiber
Average fibre lenght	2,2 mm
Average fibre width	30 µm
Fibre ends	Blunt.
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases	Cross-markings.
Associated cells
Special features	Less prominent fiber wall.
Herzberg staining
Graff 'C' staining

Botanical classification

Morus australis Poir.

Order:

Rosales

Family:

Moraceae

Synonyms:

Morus acidosa Griff.

Morus alba L. var. indica Bureau

Morus alba var. nigriformis Bureau

Morus alba var. stylosa Bureau

Morus australis var. hastifolia (F. T. Wang & T. Tang ex Z.Y. Cao) Z.Y. Cao

Morus australis var. incisa C. Y. Wu

Morus australis var. inusitata (H. Lév.) C.Y. Wu

Morus australis var. linearipartita Z.Y. Cao

Morus australis var. oblongifolia Z.Y. Cao

Morus bombycis Koidz.

Morus bombycis var. angustifolia Koidz.

Morus bombycis var. bifida Koidz.

Morus bombycis var. longistyla Koidz.

Morus bombycis var. tiliifolia Koidz.

Morus cavaleriei H. Lév.

Morus formosensis Hotta

Morus hastifolia F. T. Wang & T. Tang ex Z.Y. Cao

Morus inusitata H. Lév.

Morus longistylus Diels

Morus nigriformis (Bureau) Koidz.

Morus stylosa Ser. var. ovalifolia Ser.

Plant growing area

Grows in temperate and warm areas, in tropical areas.

Bhutan, Burma, China (Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, South East Xizang/Tibet, Yunnan, Zhejiang), India (Sikkim), Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa), Korea, Nepal, Taiwan.

Grows in limestone areas, forest margins, on mountain slopes, at an altitude from 500 to 2000 m.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Korea.

Plant cultivation and use

Morus australis is a deciduous tree growing 10-15m. It is in flower from March to May. It prefers a warm well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position but can accommodate to various kinds of soils and grow in semi-shade.

The fruit, the bark, the leaf and the root have medicinal properties. The fruits are edible.

The fruits contain anthocyanins which are pigments. The colours vary from orange, red, purple, black, and blue. They are water-soluble and easily extractable.

Root contains also yellow dyes used for dyeing paper.The bark is used for making paper.

China:

The fibers are supposed to be used in papermaking.

Korea:

In Korea the bark is used to get fiber for papermaking; the roots are used for dye or medicine.

Vernacular names

Chinese

Ji sang	鸡桑

Chinese

Xiaoye sang	小叶桑

Japanese

Yama guwa	ヤマグワ, 山桑

Korean

Sanppongnamu	산뽕나무

French

Mûrier tortueux

English

Contorted mulberry
Japanese mulberry
Korean mulberry
Silkworm mulberry
Small-leaved mulberry tree

Paper names

In Asia and particularly in China, Korea and Japan, the papers are intended for a wide range of use: Papers for calligraphy and art, Papers for ceremonies, Paper as a medium of exchange, money paper, Papers for making clothes, wall hangings and bedding, Papers for architecture, interior design, Papers for crafts of various kinds, for domestic purposes and leisure.

The names assigned to the paper refers to different notions: The material used, The place of production, The method of production, Appearance, Dimensions, Use, The name of an artist or a studio etc.

Korea:

Suffix ji = paper.

In Korea papers made with paper mulberry bark are the most numerous.

Papers

Korea

Hwangjeojuji
Hwangyumchojuji

Used part of the plant:

Bark

Root

Use for paper making:

Fiber

Dye

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Contorted mulberry

Morus australis Poir.

Papers