Moraceae

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Moraceae

Content

<<<Fruits>Seeds>Cotyledons>Shape

flat or thick, equal or unequal1
1. 007-002-001-001

<<<Leaves>Blade>Veins>Arrangement

pinnate, (sub)palmate2
2. 002-003-001-001

<<<Pistillate flowers>Pistil>Ovary>Shape

free or adnate to the perianth3
3. 006-002-002-001

<<<Pistillate flowers>Pistil>Ovules>Ovule number

14
4. 006-002-004-001

<<<Pistillate flowers>Pistil>Stigma>Stigma number

2 or 15
5. 006-002-003-001

<<Fruits>Seeds>Cotyledons

cotyledons .6
6. 007-002-001

<<Inflorescences>Shape>Texture

fleshy7
7. 003-001-001

<<Leaves>Blade>Veins

venation .8
8. 002-003-001

<<Leaves>Stipules>Position

fully amplexicaul to lateral9
9. 002-002-001

<<Leaves>Stipules>Shape

free or connate10
10. 002-002-002

<<Pistillate flowers>Pistil>Ovary

ovary unilocular, ,11
11. 006-002-002

<<Pistillate flowers>Pistil>Ovules

ovule , (sub)apically attached.12
12. 006-002-004

<<Pistillate flowers>Pistil>Pistil number

113
13. 006-002-001

<<Pistillate flowers>Pistil>Stigma

stigmas ,14
14. 006-002-003

<<Pistillate flowers>Tepals>Shape

free or connate15
15. 006-001-002

<<Pistillate flowers>Tepals>Tepal number

(3-)4(-7)16
16. 006-001-001

<<Staminate flowers>Stamens>Shape

straight or inflexed before anthesis17
17. 005-002-002

<<Staminate flowers>Stamens>Stamen number

4-118
18. 005-002-001

<<Staminate flowers>Tepals>Shape

free or connate19
19. 005-001-002

<<Staminate flowers>Tepals>Tepal number

2-4(-7)20
20. 005-001-001

<Flowers>Shape

free or connate or adnate to a receptacle21
21. 004-001

<Fruits>Seeds

seed large and without endosperm, or small and with endosperm,22
22. 007-002

<Fruits>Shape

an achene, or more or less drupaceous, or forming a drupaceous whole with the enlarged, fleshy perianth or forming a one- to many-seeded drupaceous whole with both the perianth and the fleshy receptacle23
23. 007-001

<Habit>Texture

woody24
24. 001-001

<Inflorescences>Bracts

with or without bracts25
25. 003-003

<Inflorescences>Flower number

many- to one-flowered26
26. 003-002

<Inflorescences>Shape

spicate, globose-capitate, or organised in pseudanthia with a receptacle and then discoid-capitate to cup-shaped and involucrate, or urceolate27
27. 003-001

<Leaves>Blade

blade basally attached, simple,28
28. 002-003

<Leaves>Petiole

petiolate;29
29. 002-001

<Leaves>Stipules

stipules , ;30
30. 002-002

<Pistillate flowers>Pistil

pistil ,31
31. 006-002

<Pistillate flowers>Tepals

tepals , ;32
32. 006-001

<Staminate flowers>Pistillode

pistillode present or absent.33
33. 005-003

<Staminate flowers>Stamens

stamens , ;34
34. 005-002

<Staminate flowers>Tepals

tepals , , or perianth lacking;35
35. 005-001

Description

Plants woody or rarely herbaceous, terrestrial or hemi-epiphytic, dioecious or monoecious, with milksap. Leaves alternate, in spirals or distichous, rarely opposite; petiolate; stipules fully amplexicaul to lateral, free or connate; blade basally attached, simple, venation pinnate, (sub)palmate. Inflorescences bisexual or unisexual, racemose, spicate, globose-capitate, or organised in pseudanthia with a fleshy receptacle and then discoid-capitate to cup-shaped and involucrate, or urceolate, many- to one-flowered, with or without bracts. Flowers unisexual, free or connate or adnate to a receptacle. Staminate flowers: tepals 2-4(-7), free or connate, or perianth lacking; stamens 4-1, straight or inflexed before anthesis; pistillode present or absent. Pistillate flowers: tepals (3-)4(-7), free or connate; pistil 1, ovary unilocular, free or adnate to the perianth, stigmas 2 or 1, ovule 1, (sub)apically attached. Fruit an achene, or more or less drupaceous, or forming a drupaceous whole with the enlarged, fleshy perianth or forming a one- to many-seeded drupaceous whole with both the perianth and the fleshy receptacle; seed large and without endosperm, or small and with endosperm, cotyledons flat or thick, equal or unequal.

Distribution

Guianas present, Neotropics present, World-wide, mainly in the tropics present
World-wide, mainly in the tropics: 37 genera and approx. 1100 species; in the Neotropics 19(-20) genera and approx. 250 species.; in the Guianas 14-15 (neotropical) genera and 52 species, and 1 Asiatic genus with 2 cultivated species.

Flowers

Flowers unisexual, .36
36. 004

Fruits

Fruit ;37
37. 007

Habit

Plants or rarely herbaceous, terrestrial or hemi-epiphytic, dioecious or monoecious, with milksap.38
38. 001

Inflorescences

Inflorescences bisexual or unisexual, racemose, , , .39
39. 003

Leaves

Leaves alternate, in spirals or distichous, rarely opposite;40
40. 002

Pistillate flowers

Pistillate flowers:41
41. 006

Staminate flowers

Staminate flowers:42
42. 005

Taxonomy

Subdivision of the Moraceae s.str. (- the genera Cecropia, Coussapoa, and Pourouma being regarded as members of the Cecropiaceae):
  • Moreae: plants woody, with or without uncinate hairs; staminate inflorescences racemose, spicate or globose-capitate; stamens inflexed in bud. In the Guianas: Madura (indigenous?).
  • Artocarpeae: plants woody, with or without uncinate hairs; staminate inflorescences racemose or spicate; pistillate inflorescences globose-capitate, racemose to spicate or one-flowered; stamens 4 or less, straight in bud. In the Guianas: Artocarpus (introduced), Bagassa, Batocarpus, Clarisia, Poulsenia, and Sorocea.
  • Dorstenieae: plants woody or herbaceous, with uncinate hairs; inflorescences bisexual, secondarily unisexual; receptacle discoid, turbinate or globose, not involucrate, bracts often (sub)peltate. In the Guianas: Brosimum, Dorstenia, and Trymatococcus.
  • Castilleae: plants woody, with self-pruning lateral branches, without tuncinate hairs; inflorescences unisexual, receptacle discoid to cup-shaped, involucrate, bracts basally attached. In the Guianas: Helicostylis, Maquira, Naucleopsis, Perebea, and Pseudolmedia.
  • Ficeae: plants woody, without uncinate hairs; inflorescences bisexual, receptacle urceolate, bracts basally attached. Only 1 wide-spread genus: Ficus.

Timber properties

Artocarpus
BotanicalBoth species found in the Guianas are introduced and cultivated for their fruits.
Description of the woodHeartwood, yellow-orange becoming pale brown, sharply demarcated from the whitish sapwood. Texture medium to coarse. Grain inter-locked.
WeightA. altilis 320-440(490) kg per cubic metre (12%).
A. heterophyllus 480-610(670) kg per cubic metre (12%).
Bagassa
BotanicalThe genus comprises only one species. It is distributed in the Guianas and the adjacent areas of Northern Brazil.
TreeCanopy tree, with or without buttresses. Diameter up to 80(90) cm. Bole cylindrical, well formed, up to 25 m. Tree up to 45 m high. The bark yields large quantities of sticky latex on cutting.
Description of the woodHeartwood yellow, often streaked with brown, becoming golden-brown to russet on exposure, sharply demarcated from the narrow, pale yellow to yellowish white sapwood. Texture medium to coarse, moderately uniform. Grain interlocked. Lustrous.
WeightSpecific gravity 810-1000 kg per cubic metre (12%).
ShrinkageFrom green to ovendry: radial 3.8%, tangen- tial 5.5%, volumetric 10.2%. Volumetric shrinkage is exceptionally low for a wood of this density.
Seasoning propertiesThe wood air-seasons at a moderate rate with very little tendency to warp or check.
Mechanical propertiesCrushing strength: 800 kg/sq. cm. Static bending: 1550 kg/sq. cm. Modulus of elasticity: 180000 kg/sq. cm.
Working propertiesEasy to saw and work and finishes smoothly. Has very good dimensional stability.
DurabilityHeartwood is reported to be very durable to white-rot and brown-rot fungi. Slightly resis- tant to marine borers. Weathering character- istics are considered poor
PreservationHeartwood is highly resistant to moisture absorption, comparable to Teak in this respect, suggesting poor treatability.
UsesWood used (locally) for general building purposes, heavy construction, furniture.
SupplyTree with a rather infrequent occurence in the lowland rainforests and savannas.
Trade namesCow wood, Katowar, Tuwue, Yawahedan (GU). Gele bagasse, Kaw-oedoe (SU). Bagasse, Odoun (FG). Amapa-rana, Tatajuba (BR).
Batocarpus
BotanicalOnly one species occurs in the Guianas, especially French Guiana. The genus com- prises 3 species which are distributed from Costa Rica to Brazil, Peru and Bolivia.
Brosimum
BotanicalBrosimum guianense (Syn: Piratinera guianensis), B. utile, B. rubescens (Syn: B. paraense), are reported as timber producing species. B. guianense and B. rubescens are heavy dark reddish brown woods, while B. utile produces light yellowish brown wood. Consequently, these taxa will be treated separately.
TreeCanopy trees. Unbuttressed (R. guianense and B. utile), or buttressed to 3 m (B. rubescens).
B. guian.B. rubescensB. utile
bole length:12-15 m15-21 m20m
diameter:30-50cm45-72(90) cm60-90cm
tree height:24-30m27-40m25-35 m
The boles are cylindrical.
Description of the woodB. guianense Heartwood dark red to reddish brown, often with irregular radial black markings or with black vertical stripes alone or in conjunction with the speckles. Sapwood very thick, yellowish-white. Texture fine and uniform. Grain straight. Lustre high.
B. rubescens Heartwood red-brown or rich chestnut brown with a high satiny lustre and occasionally. darker streaks. Sapwood very wide, pale yellowish-white. Texture fine. Grain straight, sometimes wavy. Lustre high.
B. utile No distinction between heartwood and sapwood, uniform yellowish-white to yellowish brown. Texture moderately coarse. Grain straight to slightly interlocked. Lustre medium to high.
WeightSpecific gravity/kg per cubic metre (12%):
B. guianense: 1130-1320.
B. rubescens: 1000-1120.
B. utile: 440-650.
ShrinkageB. guianense
Rather high.
B. rubescens
From green to ovendry: radial 4.7%, tangential 7.1%, volumetric 11.5%.
B. utile
From green to ovendry: radial 3.9%, tangential 7.8%, volumetric 15%.
Seasoning propertiesB. guianense
Should be dried carefully and in small pieces because of the development of excessive moisture gradients, causing case-hardening or collaps.
B. rubescens
Seasons without difficulties, if dried carefully.
B. utile
Air-seasons rapidly and easily with little or no degrade, presence of tension wood may cause warping.
Mechanical propertiesB. guianense
No exact data available. A strong hardwood, inclined to be splintery and to split rather easily.
B. rubescens
A tough, strong and (rather) hard wood.
Crushing strength: 1125 kg/sq. cm.
Static bending: 2450 kg/ sq. cm.
Modulus of elasticity: 230000 kg/sq. cm.
B. utile
Crushing strength: 440 kg/sq. cm.
Static bending: 1000 kg/ sq. cm.
Modulus of elasticity: 110000 kg/sq. cm.
Working propertiesB. guianense
Works with difficulty, hard to cut, takes nails badly, turns well, finishes very smoothly, polishes beautifully.
B. rubescens
Works hard but well, turns well, finishes very smoothly, polishes beautifully, glues well but does not take nails without preboring.
B. utile
Easy to machine. However, tension wood may cause fussy grain. Takes stain and finishes readily. Easy to glue, takes nails and screws well.
DurabilityB. guianense
Heartwood very resistant to termite and moderately resistant to marine borers attack, very resistant to decay fungi. Sapwood non- durable.
B. rubescens
Very durable and highly resistant to termites.
B. utile
The wood is vulnerable to attack by stain and decay fungi as well as insects.
PreservationB. guianense and B. rubescens
Heartwood can be used without preservatives.
B. utile
Reported to be treatable.
UsesB. guianense
A luxery timber used for special applications such as violin and cello bows, inlay, cuttlery handles, etc. Sawn into veneer it is used for cabinet work.
B. rubescens
High class furniture, inlay, turnery, and cabinet work, tool handles.
B. utile
Plywood, particle board, general carpentry.
SupplyB. guianense
Only available in small quantities, as only the very limited heartwood is merchantable.
B. rubescens
Only occasionally available in (very) limited quantities.
B. utile
Limited.
Trade namesB. guianense
Leopard wood, Letter wood, Paira, Pileya, Snake wood, Speckle wood, Tibokushi, Timeri (GU). Letterhout (SU). Bois d'amourette, Lettre mouchette, Pinde paya, Satine mouchete (FG). Muirapinima (BR).
B. rubescens
Doekaliballi, Imo, Pui, Satin wood, Waiwe (GU). Satijnhout (SU). Satine rouge, Satine rubane, Santinin, Siton paya (FG). Muirapiranga (BR).
B. utile
Doekali, Takina (FG).
Clarisia
TreeC. ilicifolia is a shrub or a small tree up to 20 m.
C. racemosa is a large tree up to 40 m, in the Guianas only found in Surinam.
Description of the woodHeartwood high yellow, becoming quickly golden brown or brown on exposure, sharply demarcated from the white cream sapwood. Texture medium to coarse. Grain regularly interlocked. Lustre high.
WeightSpecific gravity 600-780 kg per cubic metre (12%).
ShrinkageFrom green to ovendry: radial 3.2%, tangential 7.0%, volumetric 11.7%.
Seasoning propertiesEnd splittings possible even on quarter sawnes.
Mechanical propertiesCrushing strength: 695 kg/sq. cm.
Static bending: 1495 kg/sq. cm.
Modulus of elasticity: 140000 kg/sq. cm.
Working propertiesBecause of the silica contents and sometimes a high interlocked grain the wood is difficult to machine. However, smooth surface is obtained in all operations with proper maintenance of tools.
DurabilityHeartwood is moderately durable to fungi but durable to insects attacks.
PreservationThe heartwood is impermeable to preservation treatments.
UsesAll pieces of interior and exterior joinery.
Ficus
BotanicalIn general the species of Ficus are of no com- mercial value, as most taxa are either hemi- epiphytes or shrubs or small trees. However, some species, e.g. Ficus mathewsii, are large trees.
TreeRarely with buttresses up to 4 m. Diameter up to 100 cm. Bole up to 18m. Trees up to 35 m.
Description of the woodHeartwood not differentiated from the sapwood, light yellowish. Texture coarse to medium. Grain straight. Lustre low.
WeightSpecific gravity 370-580 kg per cubic metre (12%).
Working propertiesEasy to work, finishes smoothly, holds nails well.
DurabilityNon-durable.
Trade namesKumakaballi (GU). Bois diable, Diankatou (FG).
Helicostylis
BotanicalThe genus comprises 7 species, two of which are found in the Guianas.
TreeH. tomentosa is a canopy or subdominant tree, unbuttressed. Diameter 30-45 cm. Bole 15-18 m. Tree up to 30m high. H. pedunculata is smaller.
Description of the woodHeartwood (greenish) olive with dark brown streaks to dark brown, sharply demarcated from the wide, golden sapwood. Texture fine to medium. Grain straight to roey. Lustrous.
WeightSpecific gravity 700-880 kg per cubic metre (12%).
Seasoning propertiesThe wood dries rapidly with only slight degrade.
ShrinkageFrom green to ovendry: radial 5.4%, tangential 9.2%, volumetric 14.6%.
Working propertiesThe wood is rated fair to good in all machin- ing operations, but does cause dulling of edges; takes a high natural polish.
DurabilityThe heartwood is susceptible to attack by decay fungi; the sapwood is prone to blue stain.
PreservationThe heartwood is difficult to treat.
UsesFurniture, panelling, turnery and inlay work, floorings.
SupplyRare.
Trade namesIturi-ishi-lokodo, Sokone, Unbatapo (GU). Basri letri, Ombatapo (SU). Bofo-paya (FG). Leche perra (BR).
Maclura
BotanicalSynonym: Chlorophora tinctora L. Only one species in the Neotropics.
TreeDiameter up to 60 cm. Bole straight to crooked depending on the habitat, 6-15 m. Tree up to 30m.
Description of the woodSapwood cream-white and sharply demar- cated from the heartwood which is yellow, becoming russet or pale brown. Texture moderately fine and even. Grain variable, often interlocked, producing a fine ribbon figure on radial surfaces. Lustre high and satiny.
WeightSpecific gravity 750-900 kg per cubic metre (12%); 710-780 kg per cubic metre (0%).
ShrinkageFrom green to ovendry: radial 3.4%, tangential 5.4%, volumetric 7.8%. Despite its high density, the wood has exceptionally low shrinkage.
Seasoning propertiesThe wood air-dries at a moderate to fast rate with only slight checking and warping.
Mechanical propertiesCrushing strength: 925 kg/sq. cm.
Static bending: 2159 kg/sq. cm.
Modulus of elasticity: 180000kg/sq. cm.
Working propertiesThe wood is somewhat difficult to work with hand and power tools, but finishes smoothly and glues well. Reported to dull tools fairly quickly.
DurabilityVery resistant to termites, but prone to marine borers attack. Very durable in resistance to both white-rot and brown-rot fungi. Excellent weathering characteristics.
PreservationThe heartwood is not responsive to preservation treatments.
UsesHeavy construction, exterior and interior flooring, turnery, furniture parts. The wood contains the colouring maclurin, long used as a yellow-brown or khaki dye. Sawdust may cause irritation to skin, nose and throat.
SupplyVery limited, restricted to the coastal areas.
Trade namesFustic (GU). Bois jaune (FG.) Mora amarillo (YEN).
Note: Based on general information of the Neotropics.
Maquira
TreeSmall tree.
Description of the woodHeartwood brown-orange with fine lighter or darker lines. Sapwood whitish-yellow. Texture fine to medium. Grain interlocked. Lustre medium.
WeightSpecific gravity 930-1000 kg per cubic metre (12%).
Trade names Manletterhout, Man-letri-oedoe (SU).
Based on information concerning M. guianensis.
Naucleopsis
No information available.
Perebea
BotanicalP. mollis subsp. mollis restricted to the savanna of South Surinam. The other two taxa widespread in the Guianas, but scarce.
TreeTree up to 20-30 m.
Description of the woodHeartwood yellowish light brown. Sapwood lighter. Texture medium. Grain straight. Lustre medium.
WeightSpecific gravity 650-700 kg per cubic metre (12%).
Poulsenia
BotanicalSee the taxonomic part.
No further information available on the wood.
Pseudolmedia
TreeTree up to 40 m (often in Mora forest).
Description of the woodHeartwood cream to greyish yellow, sapwood slightly lighter. Texture medium. Grain often interlocked. Lustre low.
WeightSpecific gravity 650-750 kg per cubic metre (12%).
Trade namesBalata a graines noires (FG).
Sorocea
No information available.
Trymatococcus
TreeTree up to 20-30 m.
Description of the woodHeartwood light yellow to light brown. Sapwood slightly lighter. Texture medium to coarse. Grain sometimes interlocked. Lustre low.
WeightSpecific gravity 800-900 kg per cubic metre (12%).
Trade namesPasture tree (GU).

Uses

Some of the species furnish valuable timber: Bagassa guianensis, Brosimum guianense and B. rubescens. For fruit the two introduced Artocarpus species are cultivated, and less commonly Ficus carica. The Ficus species introduced from Asia are planted as ornamental trees or climbers. Castilla elastica Sesse has been introduced in Surinam from Central America for rubber production, but without success. The latex of Brosimum parinarioides has been used to adulterate balata.

Wood

Vessels diffuse, solitary and in short radial multiples and/or irregular clusters of 2-4, perforations simple, intervascular pits alternate, round, polygonal or slightly oval, vessel-ray and vessel-parenchyma pits slightly larger, half-bordered, the borders sometimes reduced; thin-walled tyloses common, thick-walled tyloses scarce.
Rays uniseriate and 3-6-seriate, heterogeneous, composed of procumbent cells, except for uniseriate margins of 1-3(5) rows of square and/or upright cells, only occasionally homogeneous.
Parenchyma very variable, from diffuse and scanty paratracheal to regular concentric bands, also covering all intermediate types, in some genera unilateral parenchyma common.
Fibres in some genera all non-septate, in other genera all or partly septate, gelatinous fibres common.
Radial latex tubes common, but not always present, axial latex tubes in some taxa.
Rhombic crystals in most taxa, especially in the marginal ray cells, less frequent in the other ray cells and the axial parenchyma; in one genus rhombic crystals in crystalliferous parenchyma strands.
Vitreous silica common (sometimes abundant), in vessels and tyloses, fibres and/or axial parenchyma.
KEY FOR IDENTIFICATIONFibres non-septate.2Fibres all or partly septate12Parenchyma (predominantly) in concentric or wavy bands.3Parenchyma otherwise.8Vessel frequency > 6 per sq. mm, diam. < 110 μm.4Vessel frequency < 6 per sq. mm, diam. > 120 μm.6Parenchyma bands 1-3(4) per mm; silica present in the vessels. vessel freauencv 7-13 per sq. mm, vessel diam. 75-105 μm.Clarisia ilicifoliaParenchyma bands 4-6 per mm; silica absent from the vessels.5Vessel diam. 68-70 urn.Sorocea muriculataVessel diam. 90-130 μm.Sorocea hirtellaParenchyma always in regular concentric bands, 1-3 per mm, 3-7(10) cells wide.Ficus spp.Parenchyma bands less regular, e.g. wavy and variable in width.7Vessel frequency 4-5 per sq. mm, diam. 145-200 μm.Clarisia racemosaVessel frequency 2-3 per sq. mm, diam. 200-205 μm.Batocarpus amazonicusRays slightly heterogeneous, crystalliferous parenchyma strands lacking.9Rays homogeneous, crystalliferous parenchyma strands present. containing up to 13 crystals.Maclura tinctoriaParenchyma (in part) unilateral. (For details concerning Brosimum, see table 1)Brosimum spp.Trymatococcus spp.Parenchyma not unilateral.10Rhombic crystals in the marginal ray cells, and less frequent in the axial oaren- chyma.,Bagassa guianensisRhombic crystals lacking.11Parenchyma vasicentric-aliform, with short wings, occasionally confluent, not very clear in transverse sections because the lumen diam/wall thickness ratios of the fibres and parenchyma cells are almost equal; intervascular oit size 6-9 μm.Poulsenia spec.Parenchyma aliform with short to long wings, occasion- ally confluent. well visible on transverse sections; intervascular pit size 9-13 μm.Artocarpus spp.Vessel frequency > 19 sq. mm. Naucleopsis spp.Vessel frequency < 18 sq. mm.Helicostylis spp.Maquira spp.Perebea spp.Pseudolmedia spp.