African breadfruit, Treculia africana

[buzzmonkey]

The African breadfruit, Treculia africana, might be a good candidate for the world's most hideous fruit. They are cauliflorous, huge, warty, and covered with strange bristly, black hairs. They are, however, an important food source in more humid parts of Africa, with seeds rich in protein, carbohydrates and fat. I've never personally tried them, but I still think it's a fascinating tree that might deserve more widespread cultivation at least as a curiosity.

Here are some pictures I took at the Redland Fruit and Spice Park so you too can come to love and appreciate its bountiful hideousness.

With squirrel for scale:

With my feet for scale:

And one more...

[Pedro 65]

Cool, thanks Buzz for the pics and lesson on this tree Ive never heard of

Pete

[Pip]

Adelaide Botanic Gardens has a few growing along first creek. The walk way is roped off when the fruit ripens.

[buzzmonkey]

That's very interesting that they grow well in Adelaide. That implies that they would do very well in California too, if anyone out there has the urge to grow something really weird and yet nutritious.

[The Silent Seed]

For something like this; I'm surprised I wasn't able to find any available seeds!

Anyone help me ? This is a new must-have!

[Kostas]

Very interesting, thank you for sharing!!

Would love to grow it too!

[sur4z]

Captain Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame was trying to deliver breadfruit plants from Tahiti to the colonies in the West Indies. A lot of good it did him.

[aussiearoids]

Mate had some growing here .. fruits can get much larger and even more ugly . Tree is dioecous .

[tjwalters]

Captain Bligh of Mutiny on the Bounty fame was trying to deliver breadfruit plants from Tahiti to the colonies in the West Indies. A lot of good it did him.

This breadfruit (African) is different from the one of Bounty fame, which was Artocarpus altilis.

[The Silent Seed]

Any leads on seeds or young plants by any chance ? This thing is amazing!

[fastfeat]

Doubtful this would grow well in SoCal; probably not well-adapted to Mediterranean climate.

Related to Ficus (Moraceae).

Thanks for posting.