Terap
Artocarpus odoratissimus

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 12 to 25 m high. The trunk is 40 cm across. The bark is smooth and dark grey. The twigs are 4-10 mm thick. They have ring like scars. The leaves are very rough and large. They are leathery. They can be entire or lobed. They are 16-50 cm long by 11-28 cm wide. They are hairy on both sides. The edges can be wavy. There are 12-15 pairs of secondary veins which curve and disappear near the edge of the leaf. The flower heads are solitary in the axils of leaves. The male heads are long and 40-90 ,, long by 25-35 mm wide. The fruit are very large and oval. It is 16 cm long by 13 cm wide. They are covered with soft fleshy spines. The fruit is yellow-green. The flesh of the fruit is white and very juicy and sweet with a smell. The fruit stalk is 5.5-14 cm long. The seeds are oval and 12 mm long by 8 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 tree. It suits the hot, wet tropical lowlands. It prefers a warm humid climate. It can be damaged by temperatures below 5°C. Occurs only in Mindoro, Mindanao and Basilan but apparently fairly common in Mindoro, Cotabato, Lanao, Davao, Zamboanga and Basilan in the Philippines. In Indonesia it grows in lowland forest and up to 1,000 m altitude. Brisbane Botanical Garden.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia (country/location of origin), Mauritius, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Philippines (country/location of origin), SE Asia, South America, USA

How it is used for food

The fleshy portion of the fruit is eaten raw. It is sweet. The seeds are eaten roasted or boiled. The unripe fruit can be cooked as a vegetable.

It is a cultivated food plant. The fruit is good tasting.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, nuts, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Fresh seed is washed then planted immediately. Seed germinate in about 4 weeks. Plants are spaced 12-14 m apart. Plants can be grafted.

A tropical tree. Trees produce after about 4-6 years. The spines on the fruit snap when the fruit is ripe. The fruit have to be picked from the tree as it doesn't fall. A tree produces about 180 fruit per season.

Its other names

Local names

Beluli, Benturung, Jarap hutan, Keiran, Kian, Loloi, Lumok, Lumuk amat, Madang, Marang-banguhan, Marang, Morang, Muntorong, Pi-ien, Pingan, Tarap, Tekalong, Terap, Timadang

Synonyms

Artocarpus tarap Becc.; Artocarpus mutabilis Becc.;