Artocarpus hypargyreus

Hance ex Benth.

Kwaimuk

Moraceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds 391 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Artocarpus hypargyreus is a species of plant in the family Moraceae. It is endemic to China. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

A small evergreen tree. It grows 10-25 m high. The trunk is 40 cm through. The bark is dark purple and peels off. The young branches have white hairs. The leaves are alternate. The leaf stalk is 1.5-2 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 8-15 cm long by 4-7 cm wide. The leaves are lobed on young plants. Leaves are dark green on top and whitish green underneath. There are 6-7 secondary veins on each side of the midrib. Flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. Male flowers are 1.5-2 cm long by 1.1-5 cm wide. The fruit are small, round and yellow. It is 5-7 cm across. The fruit can be seeded or seedless. The seeds are edible.

Edible Uses

The sweet fruit are eaten fresh, preserved in syrup, or dried. The edible seeds can also be consumed.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh. It can be preserved in syrup or dried.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Traditionally used as food rather than medicine.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It can withstand a little wind and drought. In China it grows in broad leafed forest between 100-1700 m altitude in southern China. It cannot tolerate frost. In garden at Miallo.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Cayman islands, China*, Cuba, North America, USA, West Indies,

Cultivation

A tree of the tropics and subtropics of China. They are moderately hardy, usually surviving temperatures down to -3°c, with some specimens surviving even lower temperatures. In general, species in this genus prefer a deep, well-drained soil; young plants need some shade, but need increasing light levels as they mature.

Other Uses

A milky latex obtained from the tree is used for making stiff rubber. The wood is used for making furniture.

Production

The tree is slow growing. Fruit should be picked when fully ripe.

Other Information

The fruit are sweet. They are also sold.

Notes

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

Also Known As

Bai gui mu

References (10)

Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 688
CRFG fruit list http://www.cfrg.org
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 154
Fl. Hongk. 325. 1861
Flora of China.

Show all 10 references