Broussonetia papyrifera L.

Description :

This plant is a deciduous shrub or tree that generally grows up to the height of 20 m, sometimes it reaches to the height of 35 m. The leaves of the tree are densely grey, opposite, alternate. The leaves are often lobed and having sharply toothed leaf margins. The shape of the leaf base is round to heart shaped.  Male and female flowers are separately present on the plant that appears in the spring season. Male flower is composed of many individual flowers and are 4 to 8 cm in diameter, and female flowers are 1 to 2 cm in diameter and are globular. Fruits of the plant are orange to reddish purple in colour. Each fruit in a cluster is a drupe.

Distribution :

This plant is native to Southeast Asia, Japan, China. It also has been cultivated in Pakistan, India, west Asia, Africa, America and other regions. It prefers to grow in warm areas in good quality of soil, it grows well near forest edges and along roadsides, and it thrives in open areas.

Uses :

This plant has several uses; the wood has great value because it has been used in making high quality utensil and furniture. The roots of the plant can be used as rope as they are very strong. The fruit and leaves are edible. The bark leaves and fruits have been used to make traditional medicine, for example in Pakistan it has been used as anciently as antipyretic and laxative. The tree can also be used as an ornamental plant.