Artocarpus lacucha

Artocarpus lacucha, also known as monkey jack or monkey fruit, is a tropical evergreen tree species of the family Moraceae. It is distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The tree is valued for its wood; its fruit is edible and is believed to have medicinal value. In Northeastern Thailand, the wood is used to make pong lang, a local traditional instrument. The stilbenoid oxyresveratrol can be isolated from the heartwood of Artocarpus lacucha as well as in Puag Haad, the light brown powder obtained from the aqueous extract of the wood chips of A. lakoocha by boiling, then slow evaporation, followed by cooling. This traditional drug is effective against the intestinal fluke Haplorchis taichui or against taeniasis. This tree is mentioned in the Arthashastra.

Description

A large tree which loses its leaves during the year. The tree grows to 10-50 m high. The trunk is short and erect but is can be bent. The crown is rounded and spreading. The bark is reddish-brown and rough and scaly in old trees. The young branches are densely covered with stiff, pale brown hairs. The leaves are alternate. The leaf stalk is 2-3 cm long. The leaves are oblong and 20-30 cm long and 2-16 cm wide. Sometimes the leaves have lobes. They are dark green and smooth above but softly hairy underneath. Male and female flowers occur on the same tree. They are clustered together in the outer surface of rounded heads. These grow at the base of the leaves. The male flower head is yellow. They are 0.8-5 cm long but fall off. The fruit have a fleshy receptacle. The fruit are velvety and yellow when ripe. They are 7-13 cm across. The fruit contains 20-30 seeds. The seeds are oblong.

Edible Uses

The flat broad seeds and ripe sweet-sour fruit are eaten raw. Immature fruit are cooked in curry, chutney, or pickles. Male flowers are pickled. Young shoots are cooked as a vegetable, and young leaves provide a sour taste.

Traditional Uses

The flat broad seeds are eaten. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They have a sweet-sour taste. The immature fruit are cooked in curry or used in chutney and pickles. The male flowers are pickled. The bark is chewed as a substitute for betel nut. The young shoots are cooked as a vegetable. The young leaves are used for a sour taste.

Medicinal Uses

The bark is chewed as a substitute for betel nut.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It suits a warm, humid climate. It grows in Nepal from sea level to 900 m altitude. In China it grows in forests in limestone mountains between 100-700 m altitude in Yunnan. In India it grows up to 1,500 m altitude. It is sensitive to frost, but is hardier than jackfruit. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Guyana, Himalayas, India*, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, Sikkim, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Fresh seed should be used as seed do not store well. Seedlings do not transplant well.

Propagation

Seed - it has a very short viability and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe. The seedcoat is very thin - the seeds need to be handled carefully to avoid damaging them. Sow seeds in a nursery seedbed, or sow 2 seeds per individual container - any surplus seedlings can be moved to another pot. The seed germinates best at a temperature of 24 - 27°c. The seed germinates quite quickly and, when 2 - 3 weeks old, are robust enough to withstand full sun and rain. Seedlings are planted out when about 20 - 25cm tall. Root cuttings. Air layering.

Other Uses

A fibre obtained from the inner bark is used for cordage. A yellow colouring matter is obtained from the wood and roots. It is used for dyeing textiles. A sticky latex is present in all parts of the tree and has many uses. The yellow wood is durable, hard and suitable for polishing. It is resistant to termites. It is used for timber, heavy construction, furniture and boat building. The wood is an important local source of fuel. The tree is an important component of traditional agroforestry systems, being integrated into mixed cropping systems with other crops.

Production

Trees start bearing after 6-7 years. Yields per tree can be 80 kg. In India fruit are available from June to August.

Other Information

The ripe fruit are sold in markets. It is cultivated.

Notes

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

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

A niao niao bei, Arimu, Armu, Badahar, Badhal, Badhar, Bak haad, Barahar, Barar, Barhal, Bartah, Belang, Berhal, Borhar, Borta, Dahua, Daowa, Dehu ja, Deophal, Dephal, Dephul, Deua, Dewa chali, Dewachaam, Dhaun, Dhawa, Dhemphal, Dheu, Etothi, Had, Heirukothong, Ingtat arong, Jram thai gidiba, Kammaregu, Kan-yae, Kathal, Keledang berok, Lakooch, Lakuch, Lirang, Lokhat, Lusuk salia, Ma haat, Maak haad, Mahad, Mai haat, Mai-mak-hat, Mayauklok-ni, Meik-mahot, Myauk-laung, Myauk-lok, Pohon nangka keledang, Pohon nangka parasmanis, Rilang, Sangyen-kung, Taeoo, Tampang ambong, Tampang gelugor, Tampang manis, Tampang nangka, Tampang, Tan-pae, Tat thei, Theitat, Vatehuli, Wotomba

References (96)

• Ali, R. M., et al, (Eds.), 2010, ASEAN Herbal and Medicinal Plants. Forestry research Institute Malaysia. p 267
• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 57
• Angami, A., et al, 2006, Status and potential of wild edible plants of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 5(4) October 2006, pp 541-550 (As lakoocha)
• Arora, K., Indigenous Forest Management in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 59

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