Morinda

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Morinda
Morinda citrifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Subfamily: Rubioideae
Tribe: Morindeae[1]
Genus: Morinda
L.[2]
Species

See text.

Synonyms

Belicia Lundell
Bellynkxia Müll.Arg.
Gutenbergia Walp., orth. var.
Guttenbergia Zoll. & Moritzi
Imantina Hook.f.
Pogonanthus Montrouz.
Rojoc Adans.
Sphaerophora Blume
Stigmanthus Lour.
Stigmatanthus Roem. & Schult.[2]

Morinda is a genus of flowering plants in the madder family, Rubiaceae.[2] The generic name is derived from the Latin words morus "mulberry", from the appearance of the fruits, and indica, meaning "of India".[3]

Description

It comprises approximately 80 species, distributed in all tropical regions of the world. These species may be trees, shrubs or vines; some, like Morinda citrifolia, are trees that very much resemble vines. All Morinda species bear aggregate or multiple fruits[4] that can be fleshy (like with Morinda citrifolia) or dry.

Most species of this genus originate in the area of Borneo, New Guinea, Northern Australia, and New Caledonia.

Morinda is used as a herb in Traditional Japanese, Korean and Chinese Medicine. In Chinese medicine, the root of morinda is known as 巴戟天 or simply 巴戟.

Selected species

Formerly placed here

  • Psychotria muscosa (Jacq.) Steyerm. (as Morinda muscosa Jacq.)[6]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morinda.
Wikispecies has information related to: Morinda
  1. ↑ "Genus Morinda". Taxonomy. UniProt. Retrieved 2009-10-09. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Genus: Morinda L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1996-09-17. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
  3. ↑ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. III: M-Q. CRC Press. p. 1730. ISBN 978-0-8493-2677-6. 
  4. ↑ Sambamurty, A.V.S.S. (2005). Taxonomy of Angiosperms. I. K. International Pvt Ltd. p. 404. ISBN 978-81-88237-16-6. 
  5. ↑ "Morinda". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "GRIN Species Records of Morinda". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 

External links

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