Plant · GBIF taxon 5361944
Paper mulberry
Broussonetia papyriferaAlso known as Tapa Cloth Tree, Paper Tree
Paper mulberry features remarkably variable leaves, ranging from simple ovals to deeply lobed shapes on the very same branch. Fast growing shoots quickly form dense thickets that crowd out native vegetation along riverbanks, roadsides, and forest edges. Polynesians spread this highly adaptable tree across the Pacific Islands to cultivate its fibrous inner bark for traditional tapa cloth.
InvasiveDeciduousFast-Growing
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Deer
- Larval Moths
- Beetles
ThreatsHabitat clearing, eradication programs, herbicide application
HabitatsDisturbed ground, urban thickets, forest borders, floodplains
Life span30 to 50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyMoraceae
- SpeciesBroussonetia papyrifera
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Milky latex sap can cause skin irritation; wild berries have toxic look-alikes, so never eat wild fruit.
- Why it is dangerous
- Milky latex inside the leaves and stems contains chemical irritants that induce contact dermatitis upon skin contact.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognize the soft fuzzy leaf undersides and the immediate release of milky white sap when twigs snap.
- What to do
- Avoid touching exposed sap directly and wear protective gloves when cutting or clearing branches.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Examine leaf shapes, which vary wildly between deeply lobed and unlobed forms on single saplings.
- Management: Pull small seedlings by the root early in the season before extensive underground runners develop.
- Safety: Wear garden gloves when pruning or clearing to protect skin from the irritating milky sap.
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 · cc0
Close Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Drepanostoma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Drepanostoma · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Patrick Hanly, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Patrick Hanly · cc-by
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