paper mulberry

noun

1. a mulberry tree, Broussonetia papyrifera, of eastern Asia, having alternate leaves that vary in size, round catkins, and orange-red fruit, grown widely as a shade tree.

paper mulberry

noun

1. a small moraceous E Asian tree, Broussonetia papyrifera, the inner bark of which was formerly used for making paper in Japan See also tapa

Word History and Origins

Origin of paper mulberry¹

First recorded in 1770–80; so called because its bark is used to make paper