构树 gou shu

Morus papyrifera Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 986. 1753; Smithiodendron artocarpioideum Hu.

Trees 10-20 m tall, flowers always produced on leafy stems; dioecious. Bark dark gray. Branchlets densely pubescent. Stipules ovate, 1.5-2 × 0.8-1 cm, apex attenuate. Leaves spirally arranged; petiole 2.3-8 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate to narrowly elliptic-ovate, simple or 3-5-lobed on young trees, 6-18 × 5-9 cm, abaxially densely pubescent but veins with coarser hairs, adaxially scabridulous and sparsely pubescent, base cordate and asymmetric, margin coarsely serrate, apex acuminate; secondary veins 6 or 7 on each side of midvein. Male inflorescences long spicate, 3-8 cm; bracts lanceolate, pubescent. Female inflorescences globose; bracts clavate, apically pubescent. Male flowers: calyx 4-lobed, lobes triangular-ovate and pubescent; anthers globose. Female flowers: calyx pipelike, lobes apically connate with style; ovary ovoid; stigma linear, pubescent. Syncarp orange-red when mature, 1.5-3 cm in diam., mostly pubescent with scattered stout and ± barbed hairs, fleshy. Drupelets equal in length to peduncle, with 2 rows of small verruca; exocarp shell-like. Fl. Apr-May, fr. Jun-Jul.

Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, SE Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Cambodia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam; Pacific Islands].

The bark fibers are used for making paper, the wood is used for furniture, and the leaves, fruit, and bark are used medicinally.