Moraceae Gaudich 1835
The Moraceae is a family of 37 genera and around 1100 species of herbs, shrubs and trees, mostly with milky sap containing latex. The genus Ficus alone includes 700 species, some of which are economically important and cultivated for their fruit as are the Morus (mulberries) from which the family takes its name. The pollination of Ficus flowers, and therefore the survival of the species, depends entirely on species-specific fig wasps which also rely on their specific Ficus for their own survival.
Succulent genera: A few Ficus species are pachycaul. Dorstenia includes mainly succulent and caudiciform herbs.
Cultivation: Several species of Ficus ( e.g. F. palmeri ) grow well as self-bonsaiing trees and are fairly undemanding, as are many herbaceous Dorstenias. Caudiciform Dorstenias such as D. gigas need very free-draining potting mixtures, careful watering and constant warmth.
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Dorstenia Linnaeus 1753
Named for: Theodor Dorsten 1492 - 1552, German botanist.
The genus Dorstenia includes about 105 species of mainly succulent and caudiciform herbs from mainly tropical Africa and Arabia with individual species from Socotra, India and Ceylon. The tiny flowers are grouped into an interesting and characteristic flat green or brown hypanthodium or "shield flower". Many species are self-fertile. Their seeds are expelled explosively from the mature seed heads and liable to populate pots several feet away.
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Families of Succulent Plants 
