mainly tropical and subtropical; some species in temperate zones;
Floral characters
inflorescences axillary; individual flowers usually congested; inflorescences axis often thickened and variously modified; flowers unisexual, usually radial, inconspicuous; tepals (0-)4 or 5(-8), distinct to connate, imbricate or valvate, often becoming fleshy and associated with mature fruits; stamens usually 1-5, opposite the tepals; filaments distinct, straight to incurved in bud; anthers 2- or 1-locular; carpels 2, connate, sometimes with one carpel reduced; ovary usually superior; stigmas 2;
Leaf characters
simple; alternate or opposite; often clearly 2-ranked; entire to serrate; pinnate to palmate venation with a marginal vein and often with a prominent collecting vein;
Stipules
usually present;
Fruit characters
drupe, dehiscent drupe or achene, often closely clustered together and forming a multiple fruit;
Hairs
present or absent; if present often simple and with mineralized cell walls;
Latex
present; white or cream coloured;
Uses
edible fruits of Ficus (esp. Ficus carica) (figs), Morus (mulberries), Artocarpus (jackfruit, breadfruit) and Brosimum (breadfruit); Castilla and Ficus as a source of rubber; some Moraceae have innocuous latex that local people drink like milk; Brosimum leaves as food for cattle; timber of Maclura, Chlorophora excelsa and Chlorophora tinctoria; ornamental plants (esp. Ficus benjamina, Maclura and Dorstenia); leaves of Morus alba as food for silkworms;
Chemical characters
latex contains polyisoprenes (source of caoutchouc!) and sometimes toxic cardenolides; Ficin of Ficus; insecticides and fungicides (benzophenones, xanthones); Morin;
