African mulberry

Morus mesozygia

Physical Characteristics

Morus mesozygia is a deciduous Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 30 m (98ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Sudan and Ethiopia, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: The infructescense is edible and tastes like white grapes[299 ]. The infructescence is up to 1cm in diameter[308 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antidiarrhoeal Antirheumatic Aphrodisiac Dysentery In African traditional medicine all plant parts are used in decoctions, baths, massages and enemas as treatments against conditions such as rheumatism, lumbago, intercostal pain, neuralgia, colic, stiffness, debility, diarrhoea and dysentery[299 ]. The root is used as an aphrodisiac[299 ]. Sap from young shoots is dropped into the nose for the treatment of syphilis[299 ]. The heartwood contains the flavonoids morin, dihydromorin and pinobanksin, the leaves a glycoside of morin. Resistance of the wood to the woodrot fungi Coriolus versicolor, Lentinus squarrosul us and Poria species is related to the presence of dihydromorin[299 ].

Known Hazards

Sawdust from the wood may cause dermatitis and irritation to the nose and throat[299 ].