Chaplash
Artocarpus chama

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 40 m tall. The bark is grey to brown. It peels off in flakes. The leafy growths (stipules) at the base of the leaves are oval and 2.5 cm long. These are yellow and hairy. The leaves are oval and 14-23 cm long by 9-14 cm wide. Young leaves are divided. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. The male heads are roundish and 1.5-3 cm by 1-3 cm. The female heads have hairy bracts. The fruit is almost round and 6-10 cm across. The seeds are 7 mm long by 4 mm wide. The fruit are edible.

There are about 50 Artocarpus species. They are in the tropics and subtropics of Asia and the Pacific.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It needs a well marked monsoonal climate. It needs a rainfall of at least 2000 mm per year. It grows in the Chittagong hills in Bangladesh. It grows in Yunnan in China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seeds are parboiled then fermented and baked before eating. The young fruits are eaten as a vegetable. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are sweet. They are also used in pickles.

Fruit are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, vegetable, bark

How it is grown

In India plants flower and fruit March to August.

Its other names

Local names

Chamal, Chambal, Cham kathal, Chamin gulo, Chaplash, Chattim, Dieng-soh-ram, Heirukothong, Jaremjang, Jarm, Jram, Knorprey, Lutta, Mit rung, Panoh-deh, Phong, Sam, Sonapati chaam, Tak sam schein, Tatkawng, Taung-peinne, Thaingpeinne, Toung-peing-nai, Vivoi, Ye shu bo luo

Synonyms

Artocarpus chaplasha Roxb.; Artocarpus melinoxylus Gagnep.; Ficus chrysophthalma (Miq.) Miq.; Urostigma chrysopthalmum Miq.;