Morinda
Morinda citrifolia
Morinda yucatanensis
Scientific 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]
Appunettia R.D.Good Belicea Lundell Rojoc Adans. Sarcopygme Setch. & Christoph.

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

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.^[3] 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Species

As of January 2026^[update], Plants of the World Online accepts the following 39 species:^[1]

References

External links

• World Checklist of Rubiaceae
• Media related to Morinda at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Morinda at Wikispecies