The ocean-going noni, or Indian Mulberry (Morinda citrifolia, Rubiaceae) and some of its "colorful" relatives

The genus Morinda embraces about 80 species, mostly of Old World origin.M. citrifolia L. (southern Asia Australia), noted as a source of dye and edible leaves, has buoyant seeds that float for many months and commonly appears in the Pacific and also in tropical America where M. royoc L., piña de ratón, is indigenous, inhabits inland hammocks and pinelands as well as seacoasts, and is also one of the floating-seed morindas. There are brief references to its use for dyeing in the Cayman Islands and Yucatan. BothM. citrifolia andM. royoc have sundry folk-remedy uses.M. parvifolia Bartl. has antitumor/antileukemic activity. High intake of selenium byM. reticulata Benth. has poisoned horses in Australia. In the Philippines, there is new interest in the wood ofM. citrifolia. It is hard and of beautiful grain.