''Morinda'' is a genus of flowering plants in the madder family, Rubiaceae. The generic name is derived from the Latin words ''morus'' "

mulberry ''Morus'', a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae, consists of diverse species of deciduous trees commonly known as mulberries, growing wild and under cultivation in many temperate world regions. Generally, the genus has 64 identif ...

", from the appearance of the fruits, and ''indica'', meaning "of India".

Description

Distributed in all tropical regions of the world, ''Morinda'' includes 80 species of trees,

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s or vines. All ''Morinda'' species bear

aggregate Aggregate or aggregates may refer to: Computing and mathematics * collection of objects that are bound together by a root entity, otherwise known as an aggregate root. The aggregate root guarantees the consistency of changes being made within the ...

multiple fruit Multi-fruits, also called collective fruits, are fruiting bodies formed from a cluster of flowers, the ''inflorescence''. Each flower in the inflorescence produces a fruit, but these mature into a single mass. After flowering the mass is called a ...

s that can be fleshy (like ''Morinda citrifolia'') or dry. Most species of this genus originate in the area of Borneo, New Guinea, Northern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

. In traditional Japanese, Korean and Chinese medicine, '' Morinda citrifolia'' is considered to be a

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

with biological properties, although there is no confirmed evidence of clinical efficacy.

Fossil record

The first fossil record for genus ''Morinda'' is from fruit of ''Morinda chinensis'' found in coal dated from the Eocene in the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island,

South China South China () is a geographical and cultural region that covers the southernmost part of China. Its precise meaning varies with context. A notable feature of South China in comparison to the rest of China is that most of its citizens are not n ...

Selected species

Plants in the former genus ''

Appunettia ''Morinda'' is a genus of flowering plants in the madder family, Rubiaceae. The generic name is derived from the Latin words ''morus'' "mulberry", from the appearance of the fruits, and ''indica'', meaning "of India". Description Distributed ...

'' are now considered synonymous with ''Morinda''.

Formerly placed here

*''

Psychotria muscosa ''Psychotria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Family (biology), family Rubiaceae. It contains 1,582 species and is therefore one of the largest genera of flowering plants. The genus has a pantropical distribution and members of the genus a ...

'' (Jacq.) Steyerm. (as ''Morinda muscosa'' Jacq.)

References

External links

World Checklist of Rubiaceae
{{Taxonbar, from=Q850491 Rubiaceae genera