Moraceae

Moraceae is a family of flowering plants comprising about 48 genera and over 1100 species, and is commonly known as the mulberry or fig 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 two carpels sometimes with one reduced, compound inconspicuous flowers, and compound fruit. The family includes well-known plants such as the common fig, breadfruit, jackfruit and mulberry. The flowers of Moraceae are often pseudanthia (reduced inflorescences).

Description Vegetative characteristics The family varies from large trees like the Indian Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) which can cover 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 billionfold difference in mass.Thulin, M. et al. (2008). Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1–4 https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

The leaves are much like the flowers when analyzing diversity. Usually the leaves are alternate (spiral or distichous), but rarely they can be opposite. 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. The mulberries can have numerous leaf shapes on the same tree; leaves can be both lobed and unlobed and appear very different, but coexist on the same plant; the most heavily lobed leaves are on vigorous young stems.

Generative characteristics 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.

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

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.

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

Phylogeny Modern molecular phylogenetics suggest these relationships:

Tribes and genera Moraceae comprises 48 genera in seven tribes.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

Artocarpeae Artocarpus (73 spp.) Batocarpus (3 spp.) Clarisia (4 spp.) Chlorophoreae (syn. Maclureae ) Maclura (13 spp.) Parartocarpeae Hullettia (2 spp.) Parartocarpus (2 spp.) Pseudostreblus (1 sp.) Olmedieae (syn. Castilleae) Antiaris (1 sp.) Antiaropsis (2 spp.) Castilla (3 spp.) Helicostylis (8 spp.) Maquira (4 spp.) Mesogyne (1 sp.) Naucleopsis (25 spp.) Olmedia (1 sp.) Perebea (10 spp.) Poulsenia (1 sp.) Pseudolmedia (11 spp.) Sparattosyce (2 spp.) Streblus (5 spp.) Dorstenieae Bleekrodea (3 spp.) Bosqueiopsis (1 sp.) Brosimum (19 spp.) Broussonetia (4 spp.) Dorstenia (122 spp.) Fatoua (3 spp.) Malaisia (1 sp.) Scyphosyce (3 spp.) Sloetia (1 sp.) Sloetiopsis (1 sp.) Trilepisium (2 sp.) Utsetela (2 sp.) Ficeae Ficus (880 spp.) Moreae Afromorus (1 sp.) Ampalis (2 spp.) Bagassa (1 sp.) Maillardia (2 spp.) Milicia (2 spp.) Morus (17 spp.) Paratrophis (12 spp.) Sorocea (22 spp.) Taxotrophis (6 spp.) Trophis (5 spp.)

Other genera accepted by Plants of the World Online :

Allaeanthus (4 spp.) Calaunia (1 sp.) Hijmania (4 spp.) Prainea (2 spp.) Treculia (5 spp.)

Fossil genera and species In addition to the living species, a number of fossil genera have been ascribed to the family:

Aginoxylon Aginoxylon moroides †Artocarpidium †Artocarpoides †Arthmiocarpus †Artocarpoxylon †Becktonia †Becktonia hantonensis †Cornerocarpon †Cornerocarpon copiosum †Coussapoites †Coussapoites veracruzianus †Cudranioxylon †Cudranioxylon engolismense †Ficofolium †Ficofolium weylandii †Ficonium †Ficonium nitidum †Ficonium silesiacum †Ficonium solanderi †Milicioxylon †Milicioxylon kachchhense †Moraceoipollenites †Moricites †Moroidea †Moroidea baltica †Moroidea caucasica †Moroidea cretacea †Moroidea hordwellensis †Moroidea reticulata †Moroidea tymensis †Moroxylon †Myrianthoxylon Myrianthoxylon chaloneri †Ovicarpum †Palaeokalopanax †Palaeokalopanax kamtschaticus †Palaeokalopanax vollosovitschii †Paleoficus †Protoficus †Protoficus crenulata †Protoficus crispans †Protoficus dentatus †Protoficus insignis †Protoficus lacera †Protoficus nervosa †Protoficus saportae †Protoficus sezannensis †Soroceaxylon Soroceaxylon entrerriense †Ungerites (syn Ficoxylon) †Ungerites tropicus †Welkoetoxylon †Welkoetoxylon multiseriatum

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.

Distribution Moraceae can be found throughout the warm temperate to tropical world with a near-cosmopolitan distribution, but mostly absent north of around 45°N latitude, and also absent from most of the Sahara and Arabian Deserts. The majority of species originate in the Old World tropics, particularly in Asia and the Pacific islands.

Moraceae

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