Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets Broussonetia papyrifera

Edible: Fruit, Flowers, Leaves, Seeds

A small deciduous tree. It grows up to about 8-15 metres tall. The stem is often surrounded by a ring of suckers. The bark is dark grey. It has very hairy branches and a milky sap. The leaf stalk is 2.3-8 cm long. Leaves are arranged in spirals. The leaves are large, heart shaped and sometimes with 3 lobes. Leaves can be 6-20 cm long by 5-9 cm wide. The leaves are rough on the upper side and woolly underneath. Male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. Male flowers are produced on stout hanging flower stalks up to 7 cm long. These have creamy anthers. Female flowers have slender purple stigmas and are produced in round heads which can be 2 cm across. It has a club shaped pulpy fruit, orange in colour. They are mulberry like and edible. Fruit do not occur on plants in the Pacific as only male trees occur.

A tropical plant. It is native to China and Japan. The trees are mostly planted. They are grown in many areas of PNG. They prefer a cool climate and do best on moist soils. They need good sunlight. In Yunnan in China it grows below 2000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 6-12. In Sichuan.

Common Names: Paper mulberry, Ai masi, Aute, Duong, Gou shu, Goushuguo, Goutao, Gouye, Guo sha, Hiapo, Hwaing-kan-setku, Jangali toot, Kaagda, Lafi, Maisa, Mai-sai-le, Mai-sau, Maisha, Mai-tun-sao, Malaing, Malo, Mamajang, Masa, Ma san, Masi, Me day, Musa, Namas, Na sha er zi, Poh-krasah, Por sa, Rou yang, Sa lae, Tapa cloth tree, Tha-le, Tomune, Tutu, U'a, Ute, Wauke

Synonyms: 

Morus papyrifera L.;
Papyrius papyrifera (L.) Kuntze;
Smithiodendron artocarpioideum Hu;
and others