Morinda

Morinda is a genus of flowering plants in the madder family, Rubiaceae.[1] The generic name is derived from the Latin words morus "mulberry", from the appearance of the fruits, and indica, meaning "of India".[3]

For other uses, see Morinda (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Moringa.

Morinda
Morinda citrifolia
Morinda yucatanensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Subfamily: Rubioideae
Tribe: Morindeae
Genus: Morinda
L.[1]
Species

See text

Synonyms[1][2]

Appunettia R.D.Good
Belicia Lundell
Bellynkxia Müll.Arg.
Gutenbergia Walp., orth. var.
Guttenbergia Zoll. & Moritzi
Imantina Hook.f.
Pogonanthus Montrouz.
Rojoc Adans.
Sarcopygme Setch. & Christoph.
Sphaerophora Blume
Stigmanthus Lour.
Stigmatanthus Roem. & Schult.

Description

Distributed in all tropical regions of the world, Morinda includes 80 species of trees, shrubs or vines. All Morinda species bear aggregate or multiple fruits that can be fleshy (like Morinda citrifolia) or dry.[4] Most species of this genus originate in the area of Borneo, New Guinea, Northern Australia and New Caledonia.

In traditional Japanese, Korean and Chinese medicine, Morinda citrifolia is considered to be a herb with biological properties, although there is no confirmed evidence of clinical efficacy.[5]

Fossil record

The first fossil record for genus Morinda is from fruit of Morinda chinensis found in coal dated from the Eocene 56 to 33.9 million years ago in the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, South China.[6]

Selected species

Plants in the former genus Appunettia are now considered synonymous with Morinda.

Formerly placed here
  • Psychotria muscosa (Jacq.) Steyerm. (as Morinda muscosa Jacq.)[8]

References
  1. "Genus: Morinda L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1996-09-17. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  2. "Morinda L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  3. Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. Vol. 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. Potterat O, Hamburger M. (2007). "Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruit--phytochemistry, pharmacology, safety". Planta Med. 73 (3): 191–9. doi:10.1055/s-2007-967115. PMID 17286240.
  6. Xianggang Shi; Jianhua Jin; Chuangxing Ye; Weiqiu Liu (2012). "First fruit fossil record of Morinda (Rubiaceae) from China". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 179 (1 July): 13–16. Bibcode:2012RPaPa.179...13S. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2012.04.001.
  7. "Morinda". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
  8. "GRIN Species Records of Morinda". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2010-11-28.
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