Indian-mulberry (Morinda citrifolia, Sp. Pl.: 176 (1753))

Family: Rubiaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 176 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Morinda

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to N. Australia

Description

Indian-mulberry, known scientifically as Morinda citrifolia, is a significant plant within the Rubiaceae family. First described in 1753, its nomenclature and botanical characteristics were documented by the renowned botanist Linnaeus.

This resilient shrub or small tree thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, extending its presence across regions from Asia to northern Australia. It commonly occupies coastal areas, open forests, and rocky or sandy soils, where it can flourish in both wild and cultivated states.

The Indian-mulberry is notable for its distinct, glossy leaves, which are oval and large, providing a dense canopy. The plant produces small, white tubular flowers grouped densely in clusters. These blossoms give way to the plant’s most recognizable feature—its fruit. The fruit is a multiple fruit, often referred to as a “cheese fruit” or “noni” due to its pungent odor when ripe. Despite its strong smell, noni has been utilized in traditional medicine across its native regions, appreciated for its purported health benefits.

The varied use of Morinda citrifolia spans medicinal, nutritional, and industrial applications. Indigenous cultures have historically harnessed different parts of the plant: its fruit, leaves, bark, and roots. The fruit, in particular, is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a staple in natural health regimes. The leaves and roots have also been used to treat various ailments and conditions.

Due to its robust adaptability and beneficial properties, Indian-mulberry has garnered attention not just within its native range but globally. Modern scientific studies continue to explore its potential, affirming and expanding upon the traditional knowledge associated with this remarkable plant.

Common Names

Eng: indian mulberry, indian-mulberry, canary-wood, cheesefruit, great morinda, noni-tree, rotten cheesefruit, noni
Msa: mengkudu, mengkudu besar, pokok
Spa: noni, mora de la india
Fra: bois douleur, nono
Swe: morinda
Por: noni, pau-azeitona
Khm: ញភ្នំ
En: Indian-mulberry, Cheesefruit, Canary-wood, Great morinda, Rotten cheesefruit, Indian mulberry, Dog dumpling, Noni, Painkiller, Koḍḍhu’, Tibah, Noni-tree, Pain-killer, Yaw-weed, Awl tree
Ar: موريندا سيتريفوليا
Bg: Нони
Ca: Noni
Zh: 檄樹, 黃木巴戟
Hr: Noni
Cs: Noni
Dv: އަހިވައް
Nl: Noni
Eo: Nonio
Et: India nonipuu
Fj: Kura
Fi: Noni
Fr: Bois douleur, Feuille douleur, Rhubarbe caraïbe, Nono, Noni, Malaye
De: Noni
El: Νόνι
He: נוני
Hu: Noni
Id: Mengkudu
Jv: Pacé
Kn: ನೋನಿ
Km: ញ, ញភ្នំ
Ko: 노니
Ms: Pokok Mengkudu, Mengkudu, Mengkudu besar, Pokok
Ml: മഞ്ഞപ്പാവുട്ട
Mr: नोनी
Or: ଆଛୁ
Ps: سپين توت
Fa: توت هندی
Pl: Morwa indyjska
Pt: Pau-azeitona, Noni
Ru: Моринда цитрусолистная
Sr: Нони
Si: අහු
Es: Mora de la India, Cacama, Gardenia hedionda, Piña de puerco, Noni
Su: Cangkudu
Sv: Morinda, Noni
Tl: Bangkudo
Ty: Nono
Zh-tw: 檄樹
Ta: வெண்நுணா
Th: ยอ
To: Nonu
Zh-hant: 檄樹
Uk: Моринда лимонолиста
Vi: Nhàu

Synonyms

• Morinda littoralis (Blanco)
• Morinda nodosa (Buch.-Ham.)
• Morinda mudia (Buch.-Ham.)
• Morinda tinctoria var. multiflora ((Roxb.) Hook.f.)
• Morinda teysmanniana (Miq.)
• Morinda citrifolia f. potteri ((O.Deg.) H.St.John)
• Morinda multiflora (Roxb.)
• Morinda quadrangularis (G.Don)
• Morinda macrophylla (Desf.)
• Morinda tinctoria var. aspera ((Wight & Arn.) Hook.f.)
• Morinda ligulata (Blanco)
• Morinda zollingeriana (Miq.)
• Morinda aspera (Wight & Arn.)
• Morinda pubescens var. aspera ((Wight & Arn.) M.Gangop.)
• Platanocephalus orientalis (Crantz)
• Sarcocephalus leichhardtii (F.Muell.)
• Samama citrifolia ((L.) Kuntze)
• Morinda citrifolia var. potteri (O.Deg.)

Distribution

• Andaman Is. (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Bismarck Archipelago (native)
• Borneo (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Christmas I. (native)
• Cocos (Keeling) Is. (native)
• Hainan (native)
• India (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kazan-retto (native)
• Laccadive Is. (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Maldives (native)
• Maluku (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Nicobar Is. (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Ogasawara-shoto (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Santa Cruz Is. (native)
• Solomon Is. (native)
• South China Sea (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Western Australia (native)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Marcus I. (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Phoenix Is. (introduced)
• Pitcairn Is. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (introduced)
• Tuvalu (introduced)
• Vanuatu (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Nov 21, 2021 by chavolla julia (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 6, 2013 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by Guillaume JUGE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 21, 2019 by Jonathan Rochet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 11, 2019 by Martin Gale (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 16, 2021 by Frédéric Droy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 27, 2020 by Boualem kali (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 29, 2022 by Michel Villagrasa (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 3, 2021 by Vovin Luong (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 6, 2020 by estelle gaudin (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Sep 21, 2019 by Jonathan Rochet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 11, 2020 by Aufond Toncul (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 16, 2022 by Gladys Durán (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 17, 2021 by Benoit Wicki (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2019 by Yxène (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 19, 2022 by Vieira do Nascimento Paulo (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 17, 2021 by Marzanna Bug (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 27, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 3, 2021 by Kusumaningrum Ratih (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 9, 2022 by FEBY MARTIZA PUTRI HARTONO – (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – O. Vargas (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – O. Vargas (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Nov 4, 2022 by Ibnu yusan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 9, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 15, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marcel ETIENNE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 22, 2017 by Guy Van Laere (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 18, 2022 by Krampl Tomáš (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 21, 2021 by chavolla julia (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5339879)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:756359-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Morinda citrifolia L.)

Specifications

Growth