Family: Moraceae
Common name: Tapa cloth tree, Paper mulberry
Tapa cloth tree is a tall, majestic deciduous tree that was considered very valuable in the olden days since they were used for making bark cloth. They are native to Asia but were introduced to many other parts by the Polynesians, to tropical as well as temperate countries.
Tree characteristics
Tapa cloth trees can grow quite tall, to a height of 20-30 meters with a fissured grayish-brown bark. The bark was used for making cloth in ancient times, by beating them with stone or wood as evidenced by several artifacts unearthed in multiple regions.
These trees can grow very quickly, reaching their full height in 3-4 years, making them an excellent choice for urban landscaping projects where the shade trees need to grow rather quickly. They have a dense canopy with large, green leaves, providing shelter and shade for humans, birds, and small animals.
Leaves of the Tapa cloth tree are quite large and broad, about 15-25 cm in length. They have variations in leaf shape; some of them are lobed, and some are simple.
These lobes are also sometimes irregular with unevenness on both sides, making the leaf non-symmetrical. Leaves are dark green with a rough texture on both the upper and lower surfaces.
Tapa cloth trees are male or female, each tree producing a different kind of flower. Male trees produce long, catkin-like fuzzy flowers that are yellowish-green in color, about 6-8 cm long.
Female trees produce spherical green flowers that look like mini pom-poms, that have multiple small flowers that are 2-3 mm in length projecting outwards from the center.
Interestingly, the fruits of the Tapa cloth tree look like flowers since they are red in color and have multiple red or orange projections. They are roughly spherical and produced in clusters, each sphere about 2-3 cm in diameter.
Each individual protrusion is a fruit with multiple seeds. This beautiful reversal of colors with lighter-colored flowers and darker-colored fruits makes the tree quite unique.
Gardening tips
Tapa cloth trees are very low-maintenance once they are mature and established in the soil. They need good sunlight to grow and flower well, but they are tolerant of poor soil conditions or some waterlogging.
Watering and fertilization are needed only when the tree is small. They grow very commonly on roadsides and open land germinating from seeds that are wind or animal pollinated.
If a Tapa Cloth Tree grows in your garden at random, it is good to ensure that it has adequate space to grow and spread its canopy, since these trees can become very large, very quickly.
They are resistant to pests and other infestations, though tender leaves can be eaten by small worms and insects. Tapa cloth trees are very good for shade and shelter, excellent choices for urban gardening and landscaping
Uses of Tapa Cloth Tree
Fruits of the tree are edible with a slightly sweet flavor; the tender leaves were also cooked and eaten as famine food. Parts of the tree have some medicinal uses in the treatment of wounds, cuts, insect bites, skin disorders, urinary ailments, and menstrual problems.
In earlier times, a very thin cloth material was made from the bark of the tree; pieces of bark beaten with wooden or stone mallets. A leather substitute can also be produced from the bark of the Tapa cloth tree.
Fiber from the tree is used for making paper, cloth, ropes etc. Paper can be produced from the inner or outer bark with variations in color in the paper depending on the wood used.
Wood or the Tapa cloth tree is light and not very durable. Hence they are commonly used for making packing materials for cartons, or cheap furniture.
Washi, a thin, hand-made Japanese paper is made from the bark of the Tapa cloth tree; a difficult and tedious manual process that has been followed for hundreds of years.
Though these trees can provide shade and shelter in urban settings, they are considered very invasive in some countries like Pakistan where the fast-growing nature and rampant spread have led to too many trees, producing pollen in copious amounts, inducing allergies.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, cuttings, and root
suckers that are produced at the base of the tree.
Ripe fruits can be dried to extract the seeds, which can then be planted in the soil to germinate.
Suckers growing around the parent tree can be cut carefully using a sharp knife and replanted. Stem cuttings from semi-hardwood branches can be planted in soil to grow roots.
Photographed at: Thrissur, Kerala
