Morus australis
The Taiwan mulberry is a deciduous tree or shrub, and is a different species from the cultivated mulberry tree. It can be found throughout Taiwan in low- to mid-altitude forest edges and secondary forests, and is a native plant with a very wide distribution.
The surface of the Taiwan mulberry leaves is rougher than that of cultivated mulberry trees, and they feel slightly different to the touch. The shape of the leaves varies greatly, and the same plant can have oval, lanceolate, or differently shaped leaves with varying degrees of serration.
The male and female flowers of the Taiwan mulberry grow on separate plants, making it a dioecious plant. Male plants produce catkin inflorescences with numerous yellow anthers. When ripe, the fruits of female plants are purplish-black and significantly smaller than those of cultivated mulberry trees. Although they are edible, they have relatively low economic value.
The Taiwan mulberry leaves are the food source for the larvae of certain lepidopteran insects, while the mature fruits attract birds and small mammals to feed on them. Additionally, the Taiwan mulberry has strong adaptability to the environment and can grow in disturbed environments such as secondary forests, playing a certain role in vegetation restoration.
In addition to Taiwan, the Taiwan mulberry is also widely distributed in South Asia and East Asia, from the Indian subcontinent through the Himalayas to southeastern China, the Ryukyu Islands, southern Kyushu in Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and other places. The museum has planted it in the Coral Atoll Area, Orchid Island Area, and the Southern Lowland Area of the Botanical Garden. It is also displayed in the herb garden of Human Cultures Hall as a source of traditional Chinese medicine.