Moraceae

Moraceae Temporal range: 80–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Cretaceous - Recent
Panama rubber tree (Castilla elastica)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Moraceae Gaudich.[1]
Genera
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.^[2] 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.^[3] The family includes well-known plants such as the fig, banyan, breadfruit, mulberry, and Osage orange. The 'flowers' of Moraceae are often pseudanthia (reduced inflorescences).

Historical 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.^[4]

Dioecy (having individuals with separate sexes) appears to be the primitive state in Moraceae.^[5] Monoecy has evolved independently at least four times within the family.

Characteristics[]

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 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^[6]

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.^[7] 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 altillis, the mulberry from Morus rubra, the fig from Ficus carica, and the jackfruit from Artocarpus heterophyllus.^[5][9]

Distribution[]

Moraceae can be found throughout the world with a cosmopolitan distribution, thought to be due to the breakup of Gondwana during the Jurassic period.^[10] The majority of species originate in the Old World tropics, particularly in Asia and the Pacific islands^[11]

Phylogeny[]

Modern molecular phylogenetics suggest these relationships:^{[4][5][9][12]}

Urticaceae (outgroup)   Moraceae   Artocarpeae     Batocarpus     Clarisia         Artocarpus       Parartocarpus     Prainea         Moreae   Sorocea       Bagassa         Milicia     Streblus         Morus     Trophis               Maclureae Maclura     Dorstenieae   Fatoua         Broussonetia               Bleekrodea           Trilepisium         Utsetela     Dorstenia         Brosimum     Trymatococcus     Helianthostylis               Ficeae Ficus   Castilleae Antiaropsineae   Sparattosyce     Antiaropsis     Castillineae     Antiaris     Mesogyne         Naucleopsis       Perebea     Pseudolmedia       Maquira       Helicostylis       Poulsenia     Castilla

Tribes and genera[]

The Moraceae comprise:^[13]

References[]

External links[]

Wikispecies has information related to Moraceae.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moraceae.

• Moraceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.