Moraceae

Overall The family varies from colossal 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. 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. Leaves 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 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. 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. ==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 • 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 • 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 world with a cosmopolitan distribution. The majority of species originate in the Old World tropics, particularly in Asia and the Pacific islands. ==See also==