White Mulberry
(Morus alba)
White Mulberry is a slow-growing tree with grey bark that bears deep cracks.
Originally from China where it abounds, it was widely cultivated for silkworm breeding. This caterpillar, whose cocoon is the source of silk, feeds exclusively on white or black mulberry leaves.
It is said that a Greek brought some White Mulberry seeds back to Europe around 500 BC, hidden in a hollow duck, to extend their culture beyond Asian horizons.
In Chinese medicine, its white berries invigorate the Yin and nourish the vital essence.