The Moraceae, commonly called the mulberry or fig family, is a widespread group of flowering plants composed of roughly 40 genera and more than 1,000 species. Members range from large canopy trees and strangling banyans to shrubs and woody vines. Many species are economically and culturally important for their fruits, timber and roles in traditional landscapes.
Key characteristics
Plants in this family typically have simple, alternate leaves and often exude a milky latex when cut. Flowers are usually small and packed into specialized inflorescences; some genera form multiple fruits (syncarps) or enclosed inflorescences. The family is placed in the order Rosales and is notable for anatomical features such as laticifers (latex-producing cells).
Diversity and distribution
Moraceae species are most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions but several occur in temperate zones. The group includes free-standing trees, epiphytes and stranglers. Genera vary in growth form and habitat preference, from forest canopy trees to shade-tolerant understory shrubs.
Ecology and pollination
The family displays a range of ecological interactions. A famously close mutualism exists between many figs and their species-specific fig wasps, which pollinate enclosed inflorescences. Fruits produced by Moraceae are an important food source for birds, mammals and insects and contribute to forest food webs.
Uses and notable genera
Several Moraceae have long-standing human uses: edible fruits, fodder, timber and ornamental planting. Examples include the common fig, the expansive banyan, the starchy breadfruit and the widely cultivated mulberry. For an overview of the family see Moraceae family overview.
Distinctions and notable facts
- Many species produce a sticky or milky sap used in traditional adhesives and handicrafts.
- Some members form large, compound fruits that are actually aggregations of many flowers.
- The fig–fig wasp pollination system is a classic example of coevolution.