Breadfruit
Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg
Location
Basketball
Family
Moraceae
Common names
Breadfruit, Vaariphal, Jeevakaphala, Nirphanas, Kadachakka
Native range
New Guinea, the Indo-Malay region
Habitat
Tropical lowland rainforests, coastal regions, and home gardens
Flowering
Seasonal; varies by region but generally correlates with rainfall.
Fruiting
Fruits several months after flowering; production cycles year-round in tropical regions
Conservation status
Not threatened; widely cultivated and naturalized in tropical belt worldwide
About this plant
It typically grows 10–20 m tall with a broad, spreading crown and a stout trunk. The tree has large, glossy, deeply lobed leaves. The tree produces both male and female inflorescences. The large, round to oval, green fruit can weigh up to 2 kg, is starchy, and edible cooked, with a texture similar to potato or bread.
Uses
Breadfruit is a major food staple in many tropical regions; the fruit is eaten boiled, roasted, or baked. Wood is used locally for canoe construction and light woodworking. Traditional medicine uses include treating respiratory and digestive ailments.
Growing conditions
Thrives in full sunlight and moist, well-drained deep soils; tolerates moderate drought but is sensitive to water-logging and frost. Adapts well in many tropical lowland regions
Habit
Large, fast-growing, deciduous to semi-evergreen tree.