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WHITE MULBERRY (Morus alba)

A small tree recognized by its small round reddish-brown buds and light brown, finely furrowed (wavy looking) bark.
White Mulberry Tree
The tree, probably a native of China, is grown under cultivation in eastern Canada and United States. It grows rapidly in moist soil and is not fastidious in its light requirements. Its chief value is for screening and for underplanting in woodlands.
White Mulberry Range
The red mulberry (Morus rubra) is apt to be confused with the white mulberry, but differs in the following characters: The leaves of the red mulberry are rough on the upper side and downy on the underside, whereas the leaves of the white mulberry are smooth and shiny. The buds in the red are larger and more shiny than those of the white.
Berries and Leaves
The Osage orange (Toxylon pomiferum (now Maclura pomifera)) is similar to the mulberry in the light, golden color of its bark, but differs from it in possessing conspicuous spines along the twigs and branches and a more ridged bark.
Osage orange Tree
(See a painting of a white mulberry by Vincent Van Gogh.)
Painting by Van Gogh

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the lesson.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Recite aloud the vocabulary words and their definitions.
  • Learn the concepts.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

This lesson looks at the white mulberry tree, which has wavy looking bark and small brown-red buds. The red mulberry (rough top, downy underside) may be told from the white mulberry (smooth and shiny) by their leaves. The scientific (Latinized) name of the white mulberry is Morus alba.

Vocabulary

Furrow: A deep wrinkle or trench.
Downy: Covered with a soft fuzzy coating.
Silkworm: Any of various caterpillars of moths that produce silk cocoons, especially Bombyx mori, the source of most commercial silk.
Silk: A fine fiber excreted by the silkworm.

Concepts

WHITE MULBERRY TREES AND SILK

  1. The fruit of the white mulberry is used to feed silkworms.
  2. Silkworms are grown to produce silk.
  3. Silk is a fiber used to make fine fabrics for clothing and linens.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

  • After reading or listening to the lesson, narrate the lesson aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Study the Lesson Pictures

  • Study the lesson pictures and describe how they relate to the lesson.

Activity 3: Take a Nature Walk

  • Bring a small sketchbook and a specimen collection bag and embark on a nature walk.
  • If they grow in your area, find a mulberry tree. Otherwise, seek out another unstudied tree.
  • Study and sketch the appearance and habitat of the tree, especially its flowers, leaves, and bark.
  • Collect a leaf specimen from the tree.
  • Use the sketch and leaf specimen to create the field book entry.

Activity 4: Complete a Field Book Entry   

After your nature walk, complete page 49 in 'Science Field Book for Fourth Grade.'

Review

Question 1

Which useful type of caterpillar eats the white mulberry?
1 / 3

Answer 1

The silkworm eats the white mulberry.
1 / 3

Question 2

How is the silkworm useful?
2 / 3

Answer 2

Silkworms are grown to produce silk.
2 / 3

Question 3

Describe something made of silk.
3 / 3

Answer 3

Silk is used to make luxurious fabrics for items such as clothing and linen.
3 / 3

  1. Which useful type of caterpillar eats the white mulberry? The silkworm eats the white mulberry.
  2. How is the silkworm useful? Silkworms are grown to produce silk.
  3. Describe something made of silk. Silk is used to make luxurious fabrics for items such as clothing and linen.

References

  1. 'Studies of Trees' by Jacob Joshua Levison. gutenberg.org/ebooks/16116. n.p.
  2. 'Morus alba.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.
  3. 'Silkworm.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

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