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I have a friend who lives in Belle Plaine. She has several trees in her yard, two weeks ago they had berries on them. They were like a raspberry, but longer. The leaves were roundish and some were lobed. The bark was smooth and a reddish brown color. The trees grow close together and are about 15 ft. tall. What do you think they are and are the berries safe to eat? They turn black when ripe and taste a little like wild raspberries. Thanks.
Last Updated: December 19, 2007
It sounds like you are describing a mulberry tree which is in the genus Morus. In Minnesota there are two kinds of Mulberry, the red mulberry (native to MN but rare) latin name Morus rubra, and the Tatarian mulberry latin name Morus alba 'Tatarica'. Incidentally, Morus alba has been categorized as an invasive species in Minnesota. The seed can be spread far and wide by birds. Humans can eat the fruit from either species of mulberry, but the red is considered more flavorful. See the following URL for more information on Mulberry:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/projects/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h405mulberry.html
This information is specific for Minnesota or certain USDA hardiness zones and may not apply to your local conditions. For more information on this topic, choose a related topic link above, submit a questions through Ask an Expert, or contact your local county Extension office.
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