Moraceae

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Moraceae
Temporal range: 80–0  Ma
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Cretaceous – Recent
Koeh-174.jpg
Panama rubber tree ( Castilla elastica )
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Gaudich. (1835) nom. cons. [1] [2]
Genera [2]

48; see text

The Moraceae—often called the mulberry family or fig family—are a family of flowering plants comprising about 38 genera and over 1100 species. [3] Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates; however, their distribution is cosmopolitan overall. The only synapomorphy within the Moraceae is presence of laticifers and milky sap in all parenchymatous tissues, but generally useful field characters include two carpels sometimes with one reduced, compound inconspicuous flowers, and compound fruits. [4] The family includes well-known plants such as the fig, banyan, breadfruit, jackfruit, mulberry, and Osage orange. The 'flowers' of Moraceae are often pseudanthia (reduced inflorescences).

Ficus retusa (Moraceae) in Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore Ficus retusa, Moraceae, Bagh-e-Jinnah.jpg
Ficus retusa (Moraceae) in Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore

Description

Overall

The family varies from colossal trees like the Indian Banyan ( Ficus benghalensis ) which can cover five acres (two hectares) of ground, to Dorstenia barnimiana which is a small stemless, bulbous succulent 2–5 cm in diameter that produces a single peltate leaf on a 4–15 cm petiole. These two species have an approximately one billion fold difference in weight. [5] [6]

Flowers

The individual flowers are often small, with single whorled or absent perianth. Most flowers have either petals or sepals, but not both, known as monochlamydeae, and have pistils and stamens in different flowers, known as diclinous. Except for Brosimum gaudichaudii and Castilla 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 in Antiaropsis , Artocarpus , Castilla , Dorstenia , Ficus , and Mesogyne . [7]

Leaves

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 ] The red 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]

Fruits and seeds

Plant species in the Moraceae are best known for their fruits. Overall, most species produced a fleshy fruit containing seeds. Examples include the breadfruit from Artocarpus altilis, the mulberry from Morus rubra, the fig from Ficus carica, and the jackfruit from Artocarpus heterophyllus. [9] [10]

Taxonomy

Formerly included within the now defunct order Urticales, recent molecular studies have resulted in the family's placement within the Rosales in a clade called the urticalean rosids that also includes Ulmaceae, Celtidaceae, Cannabaceae, and Urticaceae. 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.

Phylogeny

Modern molecular phylogenetics suggest these relationships: [11] [9] [10] [12]

Tribes and genera

Moraceae is comprised 48 genera [2] in seven tribes. [13] [14]

Other genera accepted by Plants of the World Online as of April 2024:

Fossil genera and species

In addition to the living species, a number of fossil genera have been ascribed to the family: [15]

Evolution

While the fossil record of Moraceae goes back to the late Cretaceous, molecular clock estimates suggest that the family had begun to diversify by the mid-Cretaceous, with some major clades emerging during the Tertiary period. [12]

Distribution

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. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Ficus</i> Genus of flowering plants in the mulberry family Moraceae

Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes and hemiepiphytes in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The common fig (F. carica) is a temperate species native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region, which has been widely cultivated from ancient times for its fruit, also referred to as figs. The fruit of most other species are also edible though they are usually of only local economic importance or eaten as bushfood. However, they are extremely important food resources for wildlife. Figs are also of considerable cultural importance throughout the tropics, both as objects of worship and for their many practical uses.

Urticales is an order of flowering plants. Before molecular phylogenetics became an important part of plant taxonomy, Urticales was recognized in many, perhaps even most, systems of plant classification, with some variations in circumscription. Among these is the Cronquist system (1981), which placed the order in the subclass Hamamelidae [sic], as comprising:

<i>Ficus macrophylla</i> Species of banyan tree

Ficus macrophylla, commonly known as the Moreton Bay fig or Australian banyan, is a large evergreen banyan tree of the Mulberry Family (Moraceae) native to eastern Australia, from the Wide Bay–Burnett region in the north to the Illawarra in New South Wales, as well as Lord Howe Island where the subspecies F. m. columnaris is a banyan form covering 2.5 acres or more of ground. Its common name is derived from Moreton Bay in Queensland, Australia. It is best known for its imposing buttress roots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urticaceae</span> Family of flowering plants

The Urticaceae are a family, the nettle family, of flowering plants. The family name comes from the genus Urtica. The Urticaceae include a number of well-known and useful plants, including nettles in the genus Urtica, ramie, māmaki, and ajlai.

<i>Artocarpus</i> Genus of flowering plants

Artocarpus is a genus of approximately 60 trees and shrubs of Southeast Asian and Pacific origin, belonging to the mulberry family, Moraceae. Most species of Artocarpus are restricted to Southeast Asia; a few cultivated species are more widely distributed, especially A. altilis (breadfruit) and A. heterophyllus (jackfruit), which are cultivated throughout the tropics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syconium</span> Type of fruit produced by plants of the genus Ficus

Syconium is the type of fruit borne by figs, formed by an enlarged, fleshy, hollow receptacle with multiple ovaries on the inside surface. In essence, it is really a fleshy stem with a number of flowers, so it is considered both a multiple and accessory fruit.

<i>Maclura</i> Genus of flowering plants

Maclura is a genus of flowering plants in the mulberry family, Moraceae. It includes the inedible Osage orange, which is used as mosquito repellent and grown throughout the United States as a hedging plant. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants.

<i>Trophis</i> Genus of flowering plants

Trophis is a genus in the plant family Moraceae which includes about nine species, six of which are Neotropical and three which are Palaeotropical. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants.

Ficus crassiuscula is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae, native to Central America and north-western parts of South America.

<i>Ficus pleurocarpa</i> Species of epiphyte

Ficus pleurocarpa, commonly known as the banana fig, karpe fig or gabi fig, is a fig that is endemic to the wet tropical rainforests of northeastern Queensland, Australia. It has characteristic ribbed orange and red cylindrical syconia. It begins life as a hemiepiphyte, later becoming a tree up to 25 m (82 ft) tall. F. pleurocarpa is one of the few figs known to be pollinated by more than one species of fig wasp.

<i>Ficus platypoda</i> Species of plant in the family Moraceae

Ficus platypoda, commonly known as the desert fig or rock fig, is a fig that is endemic to central and northern Australia. It is a lithophytic plant that grows on rocky outcrops, reaching 10 m in height.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artocarpeae</span> Tribe of flowering plants

Artocarpeae is a tribe within the plant family Moraceae. It includes 7 to 12 genera and 70 to 87 species including Artocarpus altilis, the breadfruit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moreae</span> Tribe of flowering plants

Moreae is a tribe within the plant family Moraceae. It includes 6–10 genera and 70–80 species, including Morus, the genus that includes the mulberries, and Maclura, the genus that includes the Osage orange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorstenieae</span> Tribe of flowering plants

Dorstenieae is a tribe within the plant family Moraceae. The tribe includes eight genera and about 120 species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castilleae</span> Tribe of flowering plants

The Castilleae are a tribe within the plant family Moraceae. It includes eight to 11 genera and 55–60 species including Castilla, the Panama rubber tree.

<i>Dorstenia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Dorstenia is a genus within the mulberry family, Moraceae. Depending on the author, there are said to be 100 to 170 species within this genus, second only in number to the genus Ficus within Moraceae. Plants of the World Online currently accepts 122 species. Dorstenia species are mainly known for their unusual inflorescences and growth habits. Dorstenia is named in honor of the German physician and botanist Theodor Dorsten (1492–1552). The type species is Dorstenia contrajerva.

<i>Dorstenia elata</i> Species of flowering plant

Dorstenia elata is a plant species in the family Moraceae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabaceae</span> Family of flowering plants comprising hops, hemps, and hackberries

Cannabaceae is a small family of flowering plants, known as the hemp family. As now circumscribed, the family includes about 170 species grouped in about 11 genera, including Cannabis (hemp), Humulus (hops) and Celtis (hackberries). Celtis is by far the largest genus, containing about 100 species.

Sparattosyce is a genus of trees in the family Moraceae. The genus is endemic to New Caledonia in the Pacific and contains two species. Its closest relative is Antiaropsis from New Guinea.

<i>Dorstenia indica</i> Species of flowering plant

Dorstenia indica is a small plant species in the family Moraceae native to Southern India and Sri Lanka. It was first described by Robert Wight in 1853.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 Moraceae Gaudich. Plants of the World Online . Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  3. Christenhusz, M. J. M.; Byng, J. W. (2016). "The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase". Phytotaxa . 261 (3): 201–217. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1 .
  4. Judd WS, Campbell CS, Kellogg EA, Stevens PF, Donoghue MJ (2008). Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic Approach. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc. pp. 1–620. ISBN   978-0-878-93407-2.
  5. Andrews, F.W. D.Sc. (1952). The Flowering Plants of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan – Volume 2. Arbroath, Scotland: T. Buncle and Co. p. 260.
  6. Thulin, M. et al. (2008). Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1–4 https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS
  7. Leite VG, Mansano VF, Teixeira SP (2018). "Floral Development of Moraceae species with emphasis on the perianth and androecium". Flora. 240 (Flora): 116–132. doi:10.1016/j.flora.2018.01.009.
  8. TWC Staff (2018). "Morus rubra (Red Mulberry)". Wildflower.org.
  9. 1 2 3 Datwyler SL, Weiblen G (2004). "On the origin of the fig: Phylogenetic relationships of Moraceae from ndhF sequences". American Journal of Botany . 91 (5): 767–777. doi:10.3732/ajb.91.5.767. PMID   21653431.
  10. 1 2 Clement WL, Weiblen GD (2009). "Morphological evolution in the mulberry family (Moraceae)". Systematic Botany . 34 (3): 530–552. doi:10.1600/036364409789271155. S2CID   85680800.
  11. 1 2 Sytsma KJ, Morawetz J, Pires C, Nepokroeff M, Conti E, Zjhra M, Hall JC, Chase MW (2002). "Urticalean rosids: Circumscription, rosid ancestry, and phylogenetics based on rbcL, trnLF, and ndhF sequences" (PDF). American Journal of Botany . 89 (9): 1531–1546. doi: 10.3732/ajb.89.9.1531 . PMID   21665755.
  12. 1 2 Zerega NJ, Clement WL, Datwyler SL, Weiblen GD (2005). "Biogeography and divergence times in the mulberry family (Moraceae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 37 (2): 402–416. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.418.1442 . doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.07.004. PMID   16112884.
  13. 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
  14. Hepworth C (2018). "Moraceae – The Mulberry Family". Florida Fruit Geek.
  15. "Moraceae". The International Fossil Plant Names Index. Retrieved 9 Feb 2023.
  16. Zerega NJC, Clement WL, Datwyler SL, Weiblen GD (2005). "Biogeography and Divergence times in the mulberry family (Moraceae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 37 (2): 402–416. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.418.1442 . doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.07.004. PMID   16112884.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)