Breadfruit is a tree and fruit native to the Malay Peninsula and western
Pacific islands. Breadfruit trees grow to a height of 20 m. The large and
thick leaves are deeply cut into pinnate lobes. All parts of the tree yield
latex, a milky juice. The trees are monoecious, with male and female
flowers growing on the same tree. The male flowers emerge first, followed
shortly afterwards by the female flowers, growing into a capitulum. These
can be pollinated three days later. The pollinators are fruit bats. The
compound, false fruit develops from the swollen perianth and originates
from 1,500-2,000 flowers. These are visible on the skin of the fruit as
hexagon-like disks. When fully ripe the fruit is cream colored and fragrant
on the inside. The mature fruits are high in carbohydrates and low in fat
and protein. They are also a good source of B vitamins.
Identification credit: Dinesh Valke
Photographed in Maharashtra.
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The flower labeled Breadfruit is ...