Mulberry family
Description
A family of tropical and subtropical trees and shrubs that produce milky latex (Moraceae 1).
The leaves are mostly alternate and simple, with stipules. The flowers are small and unisexual, regular and often grouped on the enlarged receptacle, usually with 4 sepals, petals being absent. Stamens 4 and opposite to sepals. Female flowers with superior or inferior ovary. The fruits are various, often compound and fleshy, the fleshy part grown from the receptacle.
There are about 50 genera.
Use
The family yields important tropical and subtropical fruits and includes some less important rubber-producing species.
Described species
Artocarpus altilis, breadfruit
Artocarpus heterophyllus, jackfruit
Ficus carica, fig
Ficus elastica, India rubber fig, see Ficus carica
Morus nigra, black mulberry
Morus alba, white mulberry, see Morus nigra