dyer's mulberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Old Fustic
• Cubanwood
• dyer's-mulberry
• fustic-mulberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Maclura tinctoria subvar. lobata
• Maclura tinctoria subvar. quercina
• Chlorophora tinctoria f. glabrescens
• Chlorophora tinctoria f. miqueliana
• Morus tinctoria
• Maclura tinctoria var. affinis
• Chlorophora tinctoria var. mora
• Chlorophora tinctoria var. ovata
• Chlorophora tinctoria f. ovata
• Chlorophora tinctoria f. polyneura
• Maclura tinctoria var. polyneura
• Chlorophora tinctoria f. tataiiba
• Chlorophora tinctoria subsp. zanthoxylon
• Chlorophora mora
• Maclura tinctoria var. subintegerrima
• Maclura tinctoria var. zanthoxylon
• Maclura zanthoxylon
• Chlorophora tinctoria var. acuminatissima
• Chlorophora tinctoria var. subintegerrima
• Chlorophora tinctoria var. zanthoxylon
• Morus dioica
• Maclura affinis
• Maclura chlorocarpa
• Maclura tinctoria var. ovata
• Broussonetia plumeri
• Fusticus glabra
• Fusticus tataiba
• Fusticus vera
• Fusticus zanthoxylon
• Broussonetia zanthoxylon
• Chlorophora tinctoria var. affinis
• Chlorophora tinctoria
• Broussonetia tinctoria
• Fusticus tinctoria
• Maclura tinctoria var. chlorocarpa
• Chlorophora tinctoria var. chlorocarpa
• Maclura tinctoria subsp. mora
• Chlorophora tinctoria subsp. mora
• Ioxylon mora
• Maclura tinctoria subvar. sinuata
• Maclura tinctoria var. subcuneata
• Morus zanthoxylon
• Morus tatayiba
• Morus tataiba
• Morus spinosa
• Maclura velutina
• Maclura trilobata
• Maclura sieberi
• Maclura subintegerrima
• Maclura polyneura
• Maclura sempervirens
• Maclura plumiera
• Maclura mora

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Rosales, it is classified under the family Moraeaee and the genus Maclurura.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across the diverse landscapes of Mexico. Its range extends significantly into the central regions of Mexico Central. Furthermore, it can be found thriving within the areas of Mexico Northeast and Mexico Gulf. The species also occupies the more western territories of Mexico Northwest. Finally, its distribution reaches into the southern stretches of Mexico Southwest.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Maclurura tinctoria is characterized by its adaptation to the diverse environmental conditions found within the Cerrado biome. This species thrives across a broad altitudinal gradient, establishing itself in landscapes that range from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL. By occupying this extensive elevational range, the plant demonstrates a significant capacity to persist in various topographic settings within its primary habitat.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cerrado

Life history

The life history of Maclurura tinctoria is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically categorized under the phanerophyte life form which indicates its woody, upright growth habit. This species exhibits a deciduous phenology, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Maclurura tinctoria is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, growing independently without parasitic reliance on other organisms. This species reaches significant dimensions, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 10 m to a maximum of 30 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 20 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Maclura tinctoria is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche. Its structural composition is defined by a stem specific density (SSD) that remains constant at a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 960 mg/cm³, indicating a highly uniform wood density throughout its stem development. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 318.432 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf morphology and its strategy for balancing light interception with water loss. In terms of nutrient cycling, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nitrogen availability to support its physiological requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

318.432 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) min:

960 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Maclurura tinctoria is characterized by a specialized biological process involving fleshy fruits and zoochorous dispersal, meaning seeds are spread by animals. The plant does not engage in self-fertilization, indicating a reliance on cross-pollination for genetic diversity. The seeds produced are relatively small and lightweight, with a mean mass of 0.0025 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.002 g to a maximum of 0.003 g. In terms of physical dimensions, the seed length varies significantly, with a minimum of 1 mm, a maximum of 6 mm, and a mean length of 2.876 mm. Furthermore, the seed volume shows considerable variation, ranging from a minimum of 2.8 mm³ to a maximum of 14 mm³, with an average volume of 8.4 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed length max:

6 mm

Seed length mean:

2.876 mm

Seed length min:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.003 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0025 g

Seed mass min:

0.002 g

Seed volume max:

14 mm³

Seed volume mean:

8.4 mm³

Seed volume min:

2.8 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Maclura tinctoria has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Maclura tinctoria has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3'-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4,2'-dihydroxychalcone, Dihydrocudraflavone B, Isoflavones, Macluraxanthone B, Macluraxanthone C.

3'-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4,2'-dihydroxychalcone

1. Journal of natural products

Dihydrocudraflavone B

1. Journal of natural products

Isoflavones

1. Journal of natural products

Macluraxanthone B

1. Journal of natural products

Macluraxanthone C

1. Journal of natural products

eriodictyol 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside

1. Journal of natural products

naringenin

1. Journal of natural products

naringenin 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside

1. Journal of natural products

triterpenoids

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Maclura tinctoria has 4 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antiproliferative.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of natural products
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiproliferative

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Maclura tinctoria has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include HIV.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations