i37 



Fam. 5. Moraceae. 



Tribe Ficeae. 

 (Plates 24, 25, 26; Figs. 75, 75 <z.) 



A large family of trees, many of them useful to man. 

 Caoutchouc (India Rubber) is obtained from the milky 

 juice of Castilloa elastic a (Central America), Ficus elastica 

 (Trop. Asia) and others. Artocarpus incisa (bread- 

 fruit) is largely cultivated in tropical countries. Ficus 

 Carica, the fig tree. Morus nigra and M. alba (mul- 

 berry), of the tribe Moreae, from Southern Asia and 

 China, the latter specially important as food for the silk- 



worm 



One S. A. genus. About 15 species in S. A. Ficus Tourn. 



Flowers (florets) unisexual, inserted on the inner face 

 of a fleshy, globose or pyriform receptacle (young fig), 

 which is supported at its base by a few-leaved involucre, 

 while the opening at the apex (pstiole) is closed by means 

 of closely set bracteoles. The perianth of the florets is 



3 — 5-p arted - 



r~-v 



inv. 



Fig- 75 «■• Ficus. A. F. capensis Thunb. 1. ^ flower. 2. $ flower. 3. Gall flower. 

 p. Perianth. B. F. cor data Thunb. 1. Twig with 2 young figs at time of flowering. 

 2. Ripe fig (2/1) in long, section, inv. Involucre. 



There are two kinds of female and one of male 

 florets, the latter being in most species monandrous (one 

 stamen), but in two of the S. A. species, viz. Ficus capensis 

 and F. gnaphalocarpa (F. damarensis Engl.) they are 

 diandrous (two stamens). Of the female florets one 



* Another useful and interesting tree is Madura aurantiaca, the so-called "osage 

 orange," which according to some superstition is supposed to be employed in producing 

 the Malta oranges (red flesh). It is a small North American tree, yielding a flexible wood 

 (bow wood). The fruit contains a yellow, fetid juice, with which the Indians used to 

 paint their faces when going to war. 



m. 18 



