Mulberry trees (Morus nigra) are native to Asia and now spread over nearly all southern European countries. They have been tried to cultivate 200 Years ago in northern Europe, as their leaves were the only accepted food by the silkworms, when people tried to breed and cultivate these in order to produce silken fabrics.
The trees were not tough enough to stand the northern European winters, so mulberries are hard to be found in our regions today. The wood is seldom traded, although it is a really beautiful one: Mulberries produce a very strong, durable hard and attractive golden yellow to brown coloured heartwood, that is suited for all fine works and that was traditionally used for wine casks. Turkish Saz or Bağlama string instruments are traditionally made of mulberry wood.
