Local names:
English (breadnut), Filipino (kolo,pakau,dulugian,kamansi,ugod), French (chataignier), Javanese (kelur,kulor,kulur,kuror), Malay (kulur,kelur,kuror,kulor), Spanish (castaña)
Artocarpus camansi is a moderately fast growing, single-stemmed, evergreen tree of 10-15 m or more with a trunk 1 m in diameter or larger, often growing to a height of 5 m before branching; a spreading canopy of diameter about half of the tree height and a more open branching structure than breadfruit (A. altilis) or dugdug (A. mariannensis). The tree forms buttresses at the base; roots spread and grow on or slightly below the surface. Sticky, white, milky latex is present in all parts of the tree. Leaves alternate, large, 40–60 cm long, moderately dissected with 4–6 pairs of lobes and sinuses cut half way to the midrib. New leaves on young trees can be 76 cm long or more; densely pubescent, with many white or reddishwhite hairs on upper and lower veins, lower leaf surface, and petiole. Blade is dull green with green veins. Two large green stipules enclose the bud, turning yellow before dehiscing. Flowers monoecious occuring at the ends of branches, with the male inflorescence appearing first. Male flowers are club-shaped, up to 3 cm in diameter and 25–35 cm long or longer. Female inflorescences consist of 1500–2000 reduced flowers attached to a spongy core. Unlike breadfruit, the individual flowers do not fuse together along their length. Fruit a large fleshy syncarp, oval or ovoid, 7-12 cm in diameter and weighs about 800 g; the skin dull green to green-yellow when ripe with a spiny texture from the pointed, flexible, long tips of the individual flowers; the scanty pulp yellow-whitish when ripe with a sweet aroma and taste. Seeds, 12-150 per fruit, rounded or flattened, about 2.5 cm long with a thin, light brown outer seed coat patterned with darker veins, weighs 7-10 g each and comprising 30-50% or more of the total fruit weight. Breadnut can be readily distinguished from its close relative, breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), by its very spiny fruits with little pulp and numerous large, light brown seeds. Artocarpus camansi has often been considered to be a form of seeded breadfruit. Breadfruit, however, is a separate species that originated from its wild seeded ancestor, breadnut.
Ecology
In native range, breadnut is a dominant component of the vegetation of alluvial forests in lowland areas and is one of the first species to appear on the tops of frequently flooded banks of rivers. Associated species in the upper storey include Pometia pinnata, Ficus spp., Alstonia scholaris, and Terminalia spp. Typical lowerstory trees are Garcinia, Diospyros, Myrstica, Maniltoa, and Microcos. Palm species, such as rattans and Licuala spp., gingers, and members of the Marantaceae family abound in the understory and shrub layer. In areas where the banks are higher and less frequently flooded, it is joined by Octomeles sumatrana, and a young forest dominated by one or both species develops. Ficus, Dendrocnide, Nauclea, Kleinhovia hospita, and Terminalia eventually invade the young forest. During the clearing of the lowland forest for plantations and tree gardens, wild breadnut trees and other species such as Canarium indicum, Terminalia kaernbackhii, Dracontomelon puberulum, Pangium edule, Gnetum gnemon, Areca betel, and Ceiba bombax are left standing or planted. Once established, breadnut trees can withstand a dry season of 3–4 months, although they prefer moist conditions. It can withstand strong winds and will re-sprout after sustaining wind damage. Seedlings do best in 20–50% shade but prefer full sunny conditions once established. It can tolerate waterlogged soils and periodic flooding for brief periods.
Native range
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Tree management
The stocking rate should be 100 trees/ha. Young breadnut plants prefer partial shade and should be irrigated for the first 1–3 months of establishment. Mulching is necessary for the young plants and need to be protected from cattle, goats, horses, and pigs, which eat the bark and tender shoots.
Breadnut seeds have no period of dormancy and germinate immediately. They are unable to withstand desiccation. Only firm, shiny, uniform seeds should be selected and surface-cleaned in a 2% bleach solution for 5–10 minutes or be treated with a fungicide. Seeds are recalcitrant and cannot be dried or chilled, should be planted immediately.
In native range, breadnut is a dominant component of the vegetation of alluvial forests in lowland areas and is one of the first species to appear on the tops of frequently flooded banks of rivers. Associated species in the upper storey include Pometia pinnata, Ficus spp., Alstonia scholaris, and Terminalia spp. Typical lowerstory trees are Garcinia, Diospyros, Myrstica, Maniltoa, and Microcos. Palm species, such as rattans and Licuala spp., gingers, and members of the Marantaceae family abound in the understory and shrub layer. In areas where the banks are higher and less frequently flooded, it is joined by Octomeles sumatrana, and a young forest dominated by one or both species develops. Ficus, Dendrocnide, Nauclea, Kleinhovia hospita, and Terminalia eventually invade the young forest. During the clearing of the lowland forest for plantations and tree gardens, wild breadnut trees and other species such as Canarium indicum, Terminalia kaernbackhii, Dracontomelon puberulum, Pangium edule, Gnetum gnemon, Areca betel, and Ceiba bombax are left standing or planted. Once established, breadnut trees can withstand a dry season of 3–4 months, although they prefer moist conditions. It can withstand strong winds and will re-sprout after sustaining wind damage. Seedlings do best in 20–50% shade but prefer full sunny conditions once established. It can tolerate waterlogged soils and periodic flooding for brief periods.
Breadnut is easily propagated by seed. It can be grafted using inarching and budding. Seeds are typically gathered from soft, ripe fruits. Seeds germinate within 10–14 days. Seedlings grow quickly, and are ready for out planting in less than a year.
Poison: Dried male flowers can be burned to repel mosquitoes and other flying insects.
Erosion control: Breadnut naturally occurs on frequently flooded river banks.
The fruits are nutritious and consumed when immature; thinly sliced and boiled as a vegetable in soups or stews. The seeds are high in protein and relatively low in fat compared to nuts such as almond, Brazil nut, and macadamia nut; are a good source of minerals and contain more niacin than most other nuts; can be roasted and are similar to chestnuts in texture and flavor; can be canned in brine, or processed into nut butter or nut paste, flour, or oil.
Fodder: All parts (flesh, peel, core, and seeds) of both mature and ripe fruits are edible and are fed to pigs and other livestock. Breadnut is also an important food source for flying foxes and arboreal mammals in its native range.
Apiculture: Honey bees visit male inflorescences and collect pollen and also collect latex that oozes from the fruit surface.
The wood is fast burning, but generally only older, less productive trees are used for fuel.
Timber: The wood is lightweight, flexible, and easy to work and carve into statues, bowls, fishing floats, and other objects.
Shade or shelter: Breadnut is planted in home gardens to provide beneficial shade to other plants. It could also be used as a trellis tree for yam (Dioscorea species).
Medicine: No specific medicinal uses are reported, but the breadnut tree probably has medicinal properties similar to breadfruit.
Soil improver: The large leaves of breadnut provide abundant mulch for the tree and other plants growing beneath the canopy.
Intercropping: Breadnut can be interplanted with a wide range of crops and plants, such as yam, banana (Musa spp.), coconut (Cocos nucifera), sugarcane, medicinal plants, aroids, ginger, Indian mulberry (Morinda citrifolia, noni), small fruit trees, and field and vegetable crops such as corn, beans, peanut, tomato, and eggplant.