From the
Tropical Fruit News, Rare Fruit Council International Miami RFCI
by Donna M. Cannon
Feasting on the
Kampong Mulberry
Around the beginning of June, we were lucky enough to sample some
mulberries at the Kampong that were monumental in size and flavor.
Larry Schokman led us to the tree, which he said was planted mainly to
deter birds from eating the more valuable fruits. If you think about
it, this makes that luxuriously foliated mulberry tree one of the
largest biocontrol methods around! It came through the hurricane very
well, and must have a degree of salt tolerance, as the Kampong is an
oceanfront property. (David Fairchild knew how to pick a spotl) The
ripest berries were jet black, but the ones that were crimson-purple
were also delectable.
Larry reminded us that the mulberry is a
jakfruit relative, and these luscious delights did indeed resemble
their much larger distant cousin in formation. Both fruits belong to
the family Moraceae; jakfruit's complete name being Artocarpus heterophyllus
and the mulberry, Morus,
species alba, nigra, or
rubra
depending on the color and geographical location. the leaves are used
in teas around the world, and the young shoots are sometimes eaten with
rice, in stews, or just as a green vegetable with butter and salt. And
Marian is right, they sure do stain. I wouldn't be surprised if the
fruits were not used as natural dye for fabrics, Easter eggs, etc.
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Red Mulberry Page
White Mulberry Page
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