Moraceae is a family offlowering plants comprising about 48 genera and over 1100 species,[2][3] and is commonly known as themulberry orfig family. Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates; however, their distribution is cosmopolitan overall. The only common characteristics within the family are the presence of latex-producing glands in the leaves and stems, and milky sap in the soft tissues; but generally useful field characters include twocarpels sometimes with one reduced, compound inconspicuous flowers, and compound fruits.[4] The family includes well-known plants such as the common fig,breadfruit,jackfruit and mulberry.[citation needed] The 'flowers' of Moraceae are oftenpseudanthia (reducedinflorescences).[citation needed]
The family varies from colossal trees like the Indian Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) which can cover 2 ha (4.9 acres) of ground, toDorstenia barnimiana which is a small stemless, bulboussucculent 2–5 cm in diameter that produces a singlepeltate leaf on a 4–15 cmpetiole. These two species have an approximately one billion fold difference in mass.[5][6]
The individual flowers are often small, with single whorled or absentperianth. Most flowers have either petals or sepals, but not both, known asmonochlamydeae, and have pistils and stamens in different flowers, known asdiclinous. Except forBrosimum gaudichaudii andCastilla elastica, the perianth in all species of the Moraceae contain sepals. If the flower has an inflexed stamen, then pollen is released and distributed by wind dispersal; however, if the stamen is straight, then insect pollination is most likely to occur. Insect pollination occurs inAntiaropsis,Artocarpus,Castilla,Dorstenia,Ficus, andMesogyne.[7]
The leaves are much like the flowers when analyzing diversity. The leaves can be singly attached to the stem or alternating, they may be lobed or unlobed, and can be evergreen or deciduous depending on the species in question.[citation needed] Thered mulberry can host numerous leaf types on the same tree. Leaves can be both lobed and unlobed and appear very different, but coexist on the same plant.[8]
Plant species in the Moraceae are best known for their fruits. Overall, most species produced a fleshy fruit containing seeds. Examples include thebreadfruit fromArtocarpus altilis, themulberry fromMorus rubra, thefig fromFicus carica, and thejackfruit fromArtocarpus heterophyllus.[9][10]
Formerly included within the now defunct orderUrticales, recent molecular studies have resulted in the family's placement within theRosales in a clade called the urticalean rosids that also includesUlmaceae,Celtidaceae,Cannabaceae, andUrticaceae.Cecropia, which has variously been placed in the Moraceae, Urticaceae, or their own family, Cecropiaceae, is now included in the Urticaceae.[11]
Dioecy (having individuals with separate sexes) appears to be the primitive state in Moraceae.[9]Monoecy has evolved independently at least four times within the family.
While thefossil record of Moraceae goes back to thelate Cretaceous, molecular clock estimates suggest that the family had begun to diversify by themid-Cretaceous, with some major clades emerging during theTertiary period.[12]
Moraceae can be found throughout the world with a cosmopolitan distribution. The majority of species originate in the Old World tropics, particularly in Asia and the Pacific islands.[15]
^Gardner, E.M., Garner, M., Cowan, R., Dodsworth, S., Epitawalage, N., Arifiani, D., Sahromi, Baker, W.J., Forest, F., Maurin, O., Zerega, N.J.C., Monro, A.K. and Hipp, A. (2021), Repeated parallel losses of inflexed stamens in Moraceae: Phylogenomics and generic revision of the tribe Moreae and the reinstatement of the tribe Olmedieae (Moraceae).Taxon, 70: 946-988.https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12526
^"Moraceae".The International Fossil Plant Names Index. Retrieved9 Feb 2023.
