muriera

Muriera is a term used in Romanian and related Balkan languages to denote mulberry trees or plantations of mulberry trees. It is rooted in the Latin Morus genus and is used in agricultural contexts to refer to stands cultivated for the leaves that feed silkworms, as well as to individual trees. Historically, muriera groves supported sericulture in regions where the practice was common, and they were valued for leaf production and, in some cases, fruit.

In horticulture, a muriera describes a stand of Morus species, especially Morus alba (white mulberry) and Morus nigra (black mulberry). Mulberries are deciduous trees or shrubs grown for fruit, shade, or leaf production for silkworms. Leaves are often lobed on young shoots and are favored for silkworm nutrition.

As a linguistic and cultural term, muriera also appears in toponymy and family names in Romanian-speaking areas, though usage varies by region. Some sources use muriera to denote a cultivated mulberry grove, while others use it more generally for a mulberry tree.

See also Morus; mulberry; sericulture.