Definition

Noun 1. A family of flowering plants: Moraceae is the botanical name for a family of dicotyledonous plants, commonly known as the mulberry or fig family. These are primarily trees and shrubs characterized by having a milky latex sap.

Usage Notes

• "Moraceae" is a scientific, taxonomic term used in botany and biology. It is not used in everyday conversation.
• It is always treated as a singular noun when referring to the family as a single taxonomic group (e.g., "Moraceae is a large family").
• It is often used attributively to describe characteristics or members of the family (e.g., "Moraceae plants," "Moraceae species").

Examples

• The Moraceae includes many economically important plants like the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit.
• Botanists study the unique inflorescence structure common to the Moraceae.
• The presence of laticifers, which produce a milky juice, is a defining feature of the Moraceae family.

Advanced Usage

• In some older or alternative classification systems, the genus (hemp) was included within the Moraceae family. However, in modern mainstream taxonomy (e.g., APG system), is placed in the family Cannabaceae.

Variants and Related Words

• Moraceous (adjective): Of or relating to the Moraceae family.
  • The moraceous shrubs in the exhibit all exuded latex when a leaf was torn.

Word Forms

• Singular: Moraceae
• Plural: Moraceae (The word is the same in plural form when referring to the family. One would say "the Moraceae family" or "members of the Moraceae").

Synonyms

• Mulberry family
• Fig family (These are common names, not scientific synonyms.)

Different Meanings / Classification Context

1. Standard Modern Classification: Refers to a family containing genera such as (figs), (mulberries), and (breadfruit, jackfruit).
2. Historical/Broad Classification: In some classifications, it may have included the genus , but this usage is now largely obsolete in scientific literature.

Noun

1. trees or shrubs having a milky juice; in some classifications includes genus Cannabis