Breadnut, Kamansi
Artocarpus camansi

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

Native to Papua New Guinea, Breadnut or Artocarpus camansi is a medium-sized tropical tree that can now be found in Africa, Asia, Central Africa, Congo and Costa Rica. It has a spreading crown at it can grow up to at least 10 meters tall and 100 cm in trunk diameter. It is a monoecious plant. Its fruit is globular, with about 12 to 150 seeds per fruit. The greenish-yellow fruit is usually consumed and cooked when immature - either boiled or roasted. It is nutritious and has sweet aroma and taste. The seeds can be roasted, canned, or processed into paste, butter, flour or oil. Breadnut has large leaves that can serve as soil mulch. Sticky, white, milky latex is present in all parts of the tree. The male flowers can be dried and used as mosquito repellent. The wood is light, flexible, fast burning, and can be used for fuel. Other common names include chataigne, casta?a, pana de pepita, kamansi, and kapiak. Other names: Castana, Chataigner, Kapiak, Dulugian, Kolo, Pakau, Ugod, Kelur, Kulor, Kulur, Kuror, Mei kakano, Pana de pepitas.

Artocarpus camansi is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Height (m): 15

Where it is found

Alluvial forests in lowland areas, it is one of the first species to appear on the tops of frequently flooded banks of rivers.

Southeast Asia - Indonesia to Papua New Guinea.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Found in: Africa, Asia, Central Africa, Central America, Congo, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - usually cooked. A sweet aroma and taste. The fruits are nutritious and usually consumed when immature; thinly sliced and boiled as a vegetable in soups or stews. The greenish-yellow, oval or ovoid fruit is 7 - 12cm in diameter and weighs about 800g. Seed - cooked. When roasted they are similar to chestnuts in texture and flavour. They can be canned in brine, or processed into nut butter or nut paste, flour, or oil. The seeds are high in protein and relatively low in fat compared to nuts such as almond, Brazil nut, and macadamia nut; they are a good source of minerals and contain more niacin than most other nuts. The seeds are about 25mm long, with from 12 - 150 seeds per fruit, each seed weighing 7 - 10g and, in total, comprising 30 - 50% or more of the total fruit weight.

Oil: Oil

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 1

No specific medicinal uses are reported for this species, but it tree probably has medicinal properties similar to the breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis).

Other

Rating: 3

Other uses rating: Medium (3/5). Agroforestry Uses: Breadnut can be interplanted with a wide range of crops and plants, such as yam, banana (Musa spp.), coconut (Cocos nucifera), sugarcane, medicinal plants, aroids, ginger, Indian mulberry (Morinda citrifolia, noni), small fruit trees, and field and vegetable crops such as corn, beans, peanut, tomato, and eggplant. The large leaves of breadnut provide abundant mulch for the tree and other plants growing beneath the canopy. Breadnut naturally occurs on frequently flooded river banks, where it helps to stabilize the soil. The tree is planted in home gardens to provide beneficial shade to other plants. It could also be used as a trellis tree for yam (Dioscorea species). Other Uses A sticky, white, milky latex is present in all parts of the tree. Dried male flowers can be burned to repel mosquitoes and other flying insects. The wood is light in weight, flexible, and easy to work and carve It is made into statues, bowls, fishing floats, and other objects. The wood is fast burning, but generally only older, less productive trees are used for fuel.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Insecticide: Kills insects.

Latex: A source of rubber.

Mulch: Used for covering the ground to conserve the nutrients in the soil.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Plant support: Usually bamboos, used as canes in the garden for holding up plants.

Soil stabilization: Plants that can be grown in places such as sand dunes in order to prevent erosion by wind, water or other agents.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Other Systems: Homegarden: Tropical multistrata agroforestry (multi-story combinations of trees, crops, domestic animals in the homestead).

Other Systems: Multistrata: Multistrata agroforests feature multiple layers of trees often with herbaceous perennials, annual crops, and livestock.

Staple Crop: Balanced carb: (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Other Systems: Homegarden: Tropical multistrata agroforestry (multi-story combinations of trees, crops, domestic animals in the homestead).

Other Systems: Multistrata: Multistrata agroforests feature multiple layers of trees often with herbaceous perennials, annual crops, and livestock.

Staple Crop: Balanced carb: (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A plant of low to moderate elevations in the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations from sea level to 1,550 metres. It grows best in areas where the mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is no more than 32 - 38c and the mean minimum temperature of the coolest month is no less than 16 - 18c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,300 - 3,800mm with no distinct dry season. Established plants can grow in full sun, but young plants need 20 - 50% shade. Grows best in a deep, light, fertile, well drained soil. Prefers a pH in the range 6.1 - 7.4. Plants can tolerate waterlogged soils and also periodic inundation of the soil for brief periods. Plants can withstand strong winds and will re-sprout after sustaining wind damage. Once established, breadnut trees can withstand a dry season of 3 - 4 months, although they prefer moist conditions. A moderately fast growing tree. Trees can start producing fruit when 8 - 10 years old. The tree has a shallow-rooting system, with roots often growing along the ground. Trees can produce 600-800 fruits in a season.

Propagating it: Seed - it has a very short viability and needs to be sown as soon as it is ripe.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Breadnut or Artocarpus camansi. Other common names include chataigne, casta–a, pana de pepita, kamansi, and kapiak. Other names: Castana, Chataigner, Kapiak, Dulugian, Kolo, Pakau, Ugod, Kelur, Kulor, Kulur, Kuror, Mei kakano, Pana de pepitas.

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.