Taxon:  Morinda citrifolia L.



Summary
Genus:
Morinda
Family:
Rubiaceae
Subfamily:
Rubioideae
Tribe:
Morindeae
Nomen number:
318237
Place of publication:
Sp. pl. 1:176.  1753, nom. cons.
Comment:
conserved (nom. cons.) with a conserved type (Shenzhen ICN Art. 14.9 & App. IV)
Verified:
02/27/2019 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
5 (0  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Autonym(s)
Morinda citrifolia L. var. citrifolia

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Morinda bracteata Roxb.
Morinda citrifolia L. var. bracteata (Roxb.) Hook. f.
Morinda tomentosa B. Heyne ex Roth

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)
Seed

Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  4. Applequist, W. L. 2012. Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Vascular Plants: 64. Taxon 61:1112. Note: proposal recommended
  5. Ayra, L. et al. 2022. ISSR marker based genetic diversity in Morinda spp. for its enhanced collection, conservation and utilization. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 69:1585-1593. DOI: 10.1007/s10722-021-01321-2.
  6. Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
  7. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. 1962. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. Raw materials (revised edition). 6:423-424.
  8. Craib, W. G. & A. F. G. Kerr, eds. 1925-1962. Florae siamensis enumeratio.
  9. Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
  10. Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
    • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
    • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
  11. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  12. Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
  13. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
  14. Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
  15. Johansson, J. T. 1994. The genus Morinda (Morindeae, Rubioideae, Rubiaceae) in New Caledonia: taxonomy and phylogeny. Opera Bot. 122:44.
  16. Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
  17. Lemmens, R. H. M. J. & N. Wulijarni-Soetjipto, eds. 1991. Dye and tannin-producing plants. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 3:94-96.
  18. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
  19. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
  20. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  21. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  22. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  23. Razafimandimbison, S. G. & B. Bremer. 2011. Nomenclatural changes and taxonomic notes in the tribe Morindae (Rubiaceae). Adansonia sér. 3, 33:308.
  24. Razafimandimbison, S. G. et al. 2011. (2015) Proposal to conserve the name Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae) with a conserved type. Taxon 60:607.
  25. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  26. Singh, A. K. et al. 2011. Revisiting the origin of the domestication of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.). Pl. Genet. Resources Charact. Util. 9:549-556.
  27. Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.
  28. Verheij, E. W. M. & R. E. Coronel, eds. 1991. Edible fruits and nuts. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 2:379.
  29. Wilson, K. L. 2016. Report of the General Committee: 13. Taxon 65:381. Note: proposal recommended
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishcanary-wood  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
Englishcheesefruit  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
Englishgreat morinda  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
EnglishIndian-mulberry  1Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Englishrotten cheesefruit  1Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
Frenchbois douleur  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Hawaiiannoni  2Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Portuguesepau-azeitona  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishmora de la India  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishmorinda  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaHainan Sheng Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1NativeAsia-TemperateEastern AsiaJapanRyukyu Islands Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
1NativeAsia-TemperateEastern AsiaTaiwan   
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentBangladesh   
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndia   
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentSri Lanka   
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaIndiaAndaman and Nicobar Islands  
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaIndochina   
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaThailand   
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesia   
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaMalaysia   
1NativeAsia-TropicalPapuasiaPapua New Guinea   
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaNorthern Territoryn.Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaQueensland Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaWestern Australian.e.Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
2Cultivated    also cult. 
4NaturalizedAfrica Africa  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalPapuasiaSolomon Islands  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedNorthern America Mexico  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedNorthern AmericaSoutheastern U.S.A.United StatesFloridas.Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificNorth-Central PacificUnited StatesHawaii Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificNorthwestern PacificMarshall Islands  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificNorthwestern PacificMicronesia  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificNorthwestern PacificPalau  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificNorthwestern PacificUnited StatesGuam Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificNorthwestern PacificUnited StatesNorthern Mariana Islands Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificSouth-Central PacificCook Islands  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificSouth-Central PacificFrench Polynesia  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificSouth-Central PacificPitcairn  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificFiji  Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificNew Caledonia  Johansson, J. T. 1994. The genus Morinda (Morindeae, Rubioideae, Rubiaceae) in New Caledonia: taxonomy and phylogeny. Opera Bot. 122:44.
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificNiue  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificSamoa  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificTonga  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificTuvalu  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedPacificSouthwestern PacificVanuatu  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanBahamas  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanBermuda  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanWest Indies  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaCentral America  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaSuriname  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaVenezuela  Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
  • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
  • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
6Other    exact native range obscure 
Native
Asia-Temperate
  • CHINA: China [Hainan Sheng]
  • EASTERN ASIA: Japan [Ryukyu Islands], Taiwan
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka
  • PAPUASIA: Papua New Guinea
  • INDO-CHINA: Indochina, India [Andaman and Nicobar Islands], Thailand
  • MALESIA: Indonesia, Malaysia
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia [Queensland, Western Australia (n.e.), Northern Territory (n.)]
Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Africa
  • REGION: Africa
Asia-Tropical
  • PAPUASIA: Solomon Islands
Northern America
  • SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Florida (s.)]
  • REGION: Mexico
Pacific
  • NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: United States [Hawaii]
  • NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, United States [Guam, Northern Mariana Islands]
  • SOUTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: Cook Islands, Pitcairn, French Polynesia
  • SOUTHWESTERN PACIFIC: Fiji, New Caledonia, Niue, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Samoa
Southern America
  • CARIBBEAN: West Indies, Bahamas, Bermuda
  • CENTRAL AMERICA: Central America
  • NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Suriname, Venezuela
Other (exact native range obscure)

Reference(s)
  1. Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
  2. Elevitch, C. R., ed. The traditional tree initiative: species profiles for Pacific Island agroforestry (on-line resource). Note:
    • Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Holualoa, Hawai'i
    • http://www.traditionaltree.org/
  3. Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
  4. Iwatsuki, K. et al. 1993-. Flora of Japan.
  5. Johansson, J. T. 1994. The genus Morinda (Morindeae, Rubioideae, Rubiaceae) in New Caledonia: taxonomy and phylogeny. Opera Bot. 122:44.
  6. Smith, A. C. 1979-1991. Flora vitiensis nova.
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalornamental Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Environmentalornamental Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Materialstannin/dyestuffsource of red dye from root barkLemmens, R. H. M. J. & N. Wulijarni-Soetjipto, eds. 1991. Dye and tannin-producing plants. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 3:94-96.
Medicinesfolklore McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Medicinesfolklore Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=318237. Accessed 15 April 2026.