Breadfruit

For other uses, see List of plants known as breadfruit.

Breadfruit
Breadfruit at Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Artocarpus
Species:
A. altilis
Binomial name
Artocarpus altilis
Synonyms
  • Artocarpus altilis var. non-seminiferus (Duss) Fournet)
  • Artocarpus altilis var. seminiferus (Duss) Fournet
  • Artocarpus communis J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
  • Artocarpus incisifolius Stokes [Illegitimate]
  • Artocarpus incisus (Thunb.) L.f.
  • Artocarpus incisus var. non-seminiferus Duss
  • Artocarpus incisus var. seminiferus Duss
  • Artocarpus laevis Hassk.
  • Artocarpus papuanus Diels [Illegitimate]
  • Artocarpus rima Blanco
  • Radermachia incisa Thunb. [Unplaced]
  • Saccus laevis Kuntze
  • Sitodium altile Parkinson ex F.A.Zorn [1]

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a species of flowering tree in the mulberry and jackfruit family (Moraceae)[2][3] believed to be a domesticated descendant of Artocarpus camansi originating in New Guinea, the Maluku Islands, and the Philippines. It was initially spread to Oceania via the Austronesian expansion. It was further spread to other tropical regions of the world during the Colonial Era.[4][5] British and French navigators introduced a few Polynesian seedless varieties to Caribbean islands during the late 18th century. Today it is grown in some 90 countries throughout South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean, Central America and Africa.[6] Its name is derived from the texture of the moderately ripe fruit when cooked, similar to freshly baked bread and having a potato-like flavor.[6][7]

The trees have been widely planted in tropical regions, including lowland Central America, northern South America, and the Caribbean.[5][6] In addition to the fruit serving as a staple food in many cultures, the light, sturdy timber of breadfruit has been used for outriggers, ships, and houses in the tropics.

Breadfruit is closely related to Artocarpus camansi (breadnut or seeded breadfruit) of New Guinea, the Maluku Islands, and the Philippines, Artocarpus blancoi (tipolo or antipolo) of the Philippines, and Artocarpus mariannensis (dugdug) of Micronesia, all of which are sometimes also referred to as "breadfruit". It is also closely related to the jackfruit.[8]

  1. ^ "Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson ex F.A.Zorn) Fosberg". The Plant List. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  2. ^ "Jackfruit, Breadfruit, Osage Orange, Mulberry, Soursop, Sugar Apple, Cherimoya". palomar.edu. Palomar College. Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  3. ^ Hepworth, Craig (2017-09-12). "Moraceae – The Mulberry Family". Florida Fruit Geek. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  4. ^ Matisoo-Smith, Elizabeth A. (3 November 2015). "Tracking Austronesian expansion into the Pacific via the paper mulberry plant". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112 (44): 13432–13433. Bibcode:2015PNAS..11213432M. doi:10.1073/pnas.1518576112. PMC 4640783. PMID 26499243.
  5. ^ a b Morton, Julia F (1987). "Breadfruit". Fruits of Warm Climates. West Lafayette, Indiana: NewCROP, Center for New Crops and Plant Products, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University. pp. 50–58. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "Breadfruit Species". ntbg.org. National Tropical Botanical Garden. 2017. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit)". kew.org. Kew Gardens, Richmond, Surrey, UK: Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens. 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Diane Ragone- Breadfruit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).