African breadfruit, African-boxwood
Treculia africana

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows to 15-30 m tall. It can grow up to 50 m tall. It has a dense spreading crown. The trunk is fluted. The bark is dark grey and smooth. It is thick and produces a white latex when cut. This later turns rusty red. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are very large. Leaves can be 30 cm by 14 cm or larger. They are dark green and smooth above but paler and slightly hairy underneath. The leaves are tough. They have 10-18 pairs of clear veins. The leaf stalk is 1.5 cm long and the leaf tip is pointed. Young leaves are red or yellow. The flower heads are rounded ad a yellow-brown. They are 2.5 to 10 cm across. Male and female flowers are usually separate. Flowers can grow in the axils of leaves or on older wood down to the trunk. The fruit is a compound fruit. It is rounded and very large. It can be 30-45 cm across. It grows on the trunk and main branches. Inside there are many orange seeds about 1 cm across. They are in a spongy pulp. The outer fruit surface is covered with pointy growths.

There are 3 Treculia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits hot, tropical lowland climates. It grows in forests near rivers. It can grow in swampy areas. It grows from sea level up to 1500 m in Uganda or 1,200 m in Tanzania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Australia, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The seeds can be dried, fried and eaten. They are also boiled, roasted or ground into flour. The flour is used in soups and nut milk. An edible oil can be extracted from the seeds.

A useful village tree in Africa. Fruit are sold in local markets. It is less popular than breadfruit but is high in protein and comparable to seeded breadfruit. It is available when food is short.

Edible parts

Seeds, nuts, seeds - oil, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed can be planted in pots then transplanted or they can be sown direct. There are about 5,000 seeds per kg. Seeds will only store for a few weeks but seed treatment is not needed before sowing. Plants can be budded. It can be grown from stem cuttings.

The tree is fairly fast growing. A fruit can weigh 12 kg.

Its other names

Local names

Afon, Bala, Barafuta, Becuae, Bombimbo, Bongo, Buloio, Busaka, Bushingu, Ediang, Edikang, Etoup, Eyo, Fusa, Guibinte, Guilinte, Ize, Lepuha, Limbimbo, Lyaja, Maja, Majaja, Mant-champudje, Mantchambe, Mantchambo, Maya, Mbusa, Mfeseni-pori, Mjaya, Mjaya, Mozinda, Muloli, Mululu, Mutchaia, Muzinda, Mwaya, N'sempe, Nduku, Njale, Njayi, Nsungi, Oimbo, Oimo, Okwa, Ombimbo, Opiso, Poussa, Pusa, Pushia, Pusia, Pusio, Sele, Selese, Senhe, Sobsob, Tchaia, Toum, Tsongo, Ukwa, Yaya, Zilo

Synonyms

Artocarpus africanus Sim; Treculia africana subsp. africana; Treculia centralis A. Chev.; Treculia engleriana;