Morinda
Morinda is a genus of flowering plants in the madder family, Rubiaceae. The generic name is derived from the Latin words "morus" "mulberry", from the appearance of the fruits, and "indica", meaning "of India". 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. 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. Fossil record. The first fossil record for genus "Morinda" is from fruit of "Morinda chinensis" found in coal dated from the Eocene in the Changchang Basin of Hainan Island, South China. Selected species. Plants in the former genus "Appunettia" are now considered synonymous with "Morinda".