Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Archichlamydeae

Moraceae - Fig family

Literature

Berg, C.C. (1991) Moraceae FZ 9(6)

Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2003) Figs of Southern and South-Central Africa Umdaus Press, S Africa

Description of the family

Trees, shrubs or herbs (Dorstenia only), dioecious or monoecious; sap milky, very occasionally watery (e.g. in Ficus capreifolia). Stipules present. Leaves alternate, rarely subopposite or subwhorled. Inflorescence unisexual or bisexual. Male flowers: tepals 2-6 perianth 0; stamens 1-4. Female flowers: tepals 2-6 perianth 0; pistil 1; stigmas 1 or 2.

We have followed the taxonomy of Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2003).

Worldwide: 38 genera and 1100 species, mostly in warm or tropical areas but with a few in temperate zones.

The larvae of the following species of insect eat species of this family:
Cyrestis pantheus (African map or -porcelain)
Naroma varipes (Figtree moth)
Ficus abutilifolia

More sample images from the Moraceae (Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record)

Morus australis

Morus australis

Ficus capreifolia

Ficus capreifolia

Ficus fischeri

Ficus fischeri

Ficus tettensis

Ficus tettensis

Ficus sycomorus subsp. gnaphalocarpa

Ficus sycomorus subsp. gnaphalocarpa

Links to genera: (7)    View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Dorstenia L.Description, Image
Ficus L.Description, Image
Maclura Nutt.Description, Image
Milicia SimDescription
Morus L.Description, Image
Streblus Lour.
Trilepisium Thouars

Other sources of information about Moraceae:

Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Moraceae page
Flora of Mozambique: Moraceae
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Moraceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar


Copyright: Mark Hyde and Bart Wursten, 2002-10

Hyde, M.A. & Wursten, B. (2010). Flora of Zimbabwe: Family page: Moraceae.
http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=142, retrieved 3 September 2010

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