mulberry family
Noun: A family of trees or shrubs characterized by having a milky sap or juice. This family is known scientifically as Moraceae. In some taxonomic classifications, this family also includes the genus Cannabis.
The term "mulberry family" is used in botany and horticulture to refer to a specific taxonomic group of flowering plants. It is a common name for the family Moraceae.
- The fig and the banyan tree are both important members of the mulberry family.
- Botanists study the mulberry family to understand the evolution of plants with milky latex.
- In some older classification systems, hemp was placed within the mulberry family.
- The mulberry family is economically significant, providing fruits like mulberries and figs, as well as rubber and timber.
- The characteristic milky latex found in plants of the mulberry family is a defense mechanism against herbivores.
- Moraceae: The scientific Latin name for the mulberry family.
- Mulberry tree: A common tree () belonging to this family.
- Fig family: An informal alternative name sometimes used for the Moraceae, highlighting the genus .
- Moraceae (scientific synonym)
- Fig family (contextual synonym)
The core meaning refers to the botanical family. The note that it "in some classifications includes genus Cannabis" highlights a historical or alternative taxonomic view. In modern mainstream classifications (e.g., APG IV), Cannabis (hemp) is placed in a separate family, Cannabaceae. Therefore, the term primarily denotes Moraceae, with the inclusion of Cannabis being a specific, non-universal classification detail.
- trees or shrubs having a milky juice; in some classifications includes genus Cannabis