MORACEAE

The Moraceae or mulberry family comprises approximately 1000+ species of tropical trees, shrubs, and climbers. Moraceae leaves are alternate, new leaves are sheathed by prominent stipules. The flowers are small, and the fruits are usually berries or fleshy drupes. Moraceae fruits are often edible, like figs (Ficus spp.), mulberry (Morus alba), breadfruit (Artocarpus altillis) and jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus).

Several Moraceae species produce highly toxic cardenolide glycosides, which are concentrated in the sap of the bark. The sap is harvested by aboriginal people to make poison arrow or blow pipe dart. Poison arrow made from the Southeast Asian Upas tree (Antiaris toxicaria) is particularly deadly, it causes rapid heart failure and death within minutes. During the 19th century, Western literature was filled with supernatural myths of the Upas tree, making it the most poisonous plant based on reputation alone. In South America, similarly toxic but lesser known Moraceae such as Naucleopsis is exploited by tribesmen as arrow poison.

Upas/Ipoh (Antiaris toxicaria), foliage.

Antiaris toxicaria, matured trees.

Antiaris toxicaria, seedling.