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Artocarpus altilis

(Parkinson) Fosberg (1941)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Rosales Family: Moraceae Genus: Artocarpus

‘ulu [ulu], breadfruit, breadnut

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Large fruit eaten and made into poi (Abbott 1992:35: Malo 1951:21); sweet dish made from ulu and and coconut (niu) cream (Krauss 1993:11). It is said that the original ulu maika was disk cut from immature breadfruit (Krauss 1993:94). The lightweight wood used for drums (pahu) (Abbott 1992:119), surfboards (papa he‘enalu) (Krauss 1993:96); house doors and canoes (Kamakau 1976:103, 118; Malo 1951:21). Trunks used to make poi boards (papa ku‘i ‘ai) (Krauss 1993:18). Inner bark fibers for a low–grade kapa (Abbott 1992:51; Malo 1951:48). A yellow-brown dye is made from male flowers (Krauss 1993:67); sap for birdlime and leaves as sandpaper (Handy et al. 192:154); used on hula altars (kuahu) (Emerson 1909:20). Sap as gum from stem chewed by children, and also used as glue to join gourds to make ipu heke (Handy et al. 1972:154). In the Ethnology Collection at Bishop Museum there is a post-contact example of the wood made into a bowl.

  • To treat koko‘ino (bad blood), one can combine the bark of ‘ulu with that of ‘ahakea (Bobea spp.), ‘ohi‘a (Metrosideros spp.), ‘uhaloa (Waltheria indica), ‘auko‘i (Senna occidentalis) and kōkea (white sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum) along with the flowers and leaves of ko‘oko‘olau (Bidens spp.); these items are mixed into a liquid form and to be taken three times daily (Chun 1992:38–39). ‘Ulu, especially the sap, is used as a secondary ingredient in numerous other remedies (see other plants).

  • Yellow, tan, brown dye (male inflorescence)

  • Wood used for poi board

CULTURE

  • The Breadfruit Tree and "Origin Myth of the Breadfruit" Ku turns into an ‘ulu tree to feed his family. HAUMEA is the low laying ‘ulu called kino-o-Haumea (Beckwith 1970:98; Pukui 1995:8). "Myth of Haumea as Kamehaikana" (Beckwith 1970:281). "An Account of the Breadfruit" (Fornander [v.5 part iii] 1919:676). "The Mischievous Boy of Maui" Kaulu uses breadfruit sap to gum the eyes of evil spirits shut (Pukui & Curtis 1951:188).

  • Kinolau of Ku and Haumea.

PROPAGATION/CULTIVATION

  • Sever from root stock of mature tree (but don't dig out of the earth), when the plant has developed its own root structure, can be moved (dirt & all). Grows in a varierty of soil types (Burgess and Enos 1996:31; Handy et al. 1972:152).

Natural History

Statewide Status

Only found in cultivation

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Only found in cultivation
Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Molokai Only found in cultivation
Lana'i Only found in cultivation
Maui Only found in cultivation
Hawai'i Only found in cultivation

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: J. Washington Acad. Sci. 31: 95 (1941)

Other References

Laau Hawaii (Abbott) p.28

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Artocarpus altilis Honolulu, 1904 Manoa Rd full sun Preserved_Specimen 12' tree, milky latex Lau, J. 1234 Oahu BISH 1985-07-22
2 Artocarpus altilis Colonial Hotel Cultivated Preserved_Specimen 50 ft high Grant, M.L. 7096 Oahu BISH 1934-07-18
3 Artocarpus altilis Leahi, 1 mi NE Dry limestone sinkhole, 15' deep Preserved_Specimen 10 m x 6 dm, old tree, projecting 5 m from top of hole St.John, H. 22780 Niihau BISH 1947-08-13
4 Artocarpus altilis Leahi, 1 mi NE Dry limestone sinkhole, 15' deep Preserved_Specimen 10 m x 6 dm, old tree, projecting 5 m from top of hole St.John, H. 22780 Niihau BISH 1947-08-13
5 Artocarpus altilis Koloa District, National Tropical Botanical Garden in Lawai Valley, McBryde Garden, Upper Valley fruit orchard (Food for Thought area), west side of Lawai Stream. Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Tree 6 m w low, full spreading crown, trunk ca. 25 cm diam. Leaves dark glossy green above w yellow midrib & veins, latex white. Male inflorescence pale green. Fruits subglobose, light green, surface pebbled. Flesh white, seedless. Origin Kosrae, F.S.M., D Ragone 558. Lorence, D.H. 10730 Kauai BISH 2018-02-12
6 Artocarpus altilis Punaula Valley Wooded valley. Preserved_Specimen 20' tree St.John, H. 12813 Molokai BISH 1932-12-28
7 Artocarpus altilis Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 9/16/2002
8 Artocarpus altilis Laie Preserved_Specimen fruit 5-8; leaves 1-3, blunt lobes Higuchi, G.T. 51 Oahu BISH 1971-05-07
9 Artocarpus altilis Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 12/1/2014
10 Artocarpus altilis Honolulu: Colonial Hotel Cultivated Preserved_Specimen 50 ft high. Grant, M.L. 7096 Oahu BISH 1934-07-18
11 Artocarpus altilis ahupuaa of Halepuaa Forest Reserve in the Puna District Found growing near the experimental tree planting area. Preserved_Specimen ESP Field Crew Hawaii BISH 1979-10-05
12 Artocarpus altilis Muolea edge of moist gulch Preserved_Specimen 25 m x 8 dm tree, fruit 15-18 cm diam. globose St.John, H. 24754 Maui BISH 1951-12-27
13 Artocarpus altilis Captain Cook, Amy BH Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 2/29/2020
14 Artocarpus altilis Lihue Preserved_Specimen 40' x 1.5', tree Little Jr., E.L. 31190 Kauai BISH 1976-09-03
15 Artocarpus altilis Laie, near old post office Preserved_Specimen tree to 30', large, deeply lobed leaves; 8 fruit Afualo, D. 120 Oahu BISH 1975-03-25
16 Artocarpus altilis Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 2633 Oahu BISH 1909-04-01
17 Artocarpus altilis Laie Preserved_Specimen brownish fruit to 8, weighing 10 lbs., flowers grow separately on hugh leathery leaves Ernestburg, E. 18 Oahu BISH 1977-04-01
18 Artocarpus altilis Waipio, Kipapa Gulch Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 824 Oahu BISH 1932-10-30
19 Artocarpus altilis Waipio Valley HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 9/1/2008
20 Artocarpus altilis Honolulu, 2661 Nuuanu Ave Preserved_Specimen Angus, D. Oahu BISH 1943-09-14
21 Artocarpus altilis Nuuanu Valley, R.A. Cooke's place Preserved_Specimen Cooke Jr., C.M. 2 Oahu BISH 1926-01-28
22 Artocarpus altilis Kapiolani Park Preserved_Specimen Forbes, A. 42 Oahu BISH 1929-03-09
23 Artocarpus altilis unknown Preserved_Specimen Rémy, J. 206 BISH 1854-01-01
24 Artocarpus altilis unknown Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. 566 BISH 1864-01-01
25 Artocarpus altilis Honolulu; Manoa Valley; University of Hawaii Manoa Campus Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 620409 Oahu BISH 1962-04-09
26 Artocarpus altilis UH Manoa campus, #60 on map Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 527 Oahu BISH 1967-08-12
27 Artocarpus altilis ahupuaa of Halepuaa Forest Reserve in the Puna District Preserved_Specimen ESP Field Crew Hawaii BISH 1979-10-05
28 Artocarpus altilis Ahupua'a 'O Kahana State Park Moist forest Preserved_Specimen Root suckers from mature tree Faccenda, K. 2146 Oahu BISH 2021-10-31
29 Artocarpus altilis Kapu residence. Ahupuaa of Kahaluu. Cultivated in yard with Syzygium malaccense, Metrosideros polymorpha, Diplazium esculentum, Mangifera indica, Musa sp., Cordyline fruticosa, and other ornamentals. Preserved_Specimen Tree over 5 m tall, many branched, subtended by abundant root suckers. This tree is apparently a root sucker from an older tree planted generations ago. Fruit are large, 35 cm diameter, semi ellipsoid. Flesh light yellow, very sweet when cooked ripe. Excellent for making poiʻulu. Thomas, M.K. 895 Oahu BISH 2024-10-04
30 Artocarpus altilis Haleiwa red clay Preserved_Specimen tall tree, weak branches, round fruit Aki, J. 42 Oahu BISH 1969-11-25
31 Artocarpus altilis Honolulu: Colonial Hotel Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Female fruit, Plant 50 ft high. Grant, M.L. 7096 Oahu BISH 1934-07-18
32 Artocarpus altilis Koloa District. South Kauai, NTBG McBryde Garden, Breadfruit Collection, Grid# McB15 Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Tree observed 5/30/23. Height 7.55 meters. Pruned 2022. Vigor normal. Male flowers persent. Leaves are flexzible, midly shiny, moderately dissected, 2-(4) close and closely overlapping spaced lobes on each side with a velcro effect. Fruit yield at time was low. Fruit is spherical shaped, light-greenish yellow, with ___ Rogers, K. 5 Kauai BISH 2023-05-30
33 Artocarpus altilis East Maui, Hana District, Kalepa, Nuanualoa Gulch wooded gulch, in Hibiscus thicket Preserved_Specimen 25 m x 6 dm tree, with glabrous fruit St.John, H. 24750 Maui BISH 1951-12-27
34 Artocarpus altilis Honolulu: Colonial Hotel Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Female fruit, Plant 50 ft high. Grant, M.L. 7096 Oahu BISH 1934-07-18
35 Artocarpus altilis Koloa District, National Tropical Botanical Garden in Lawai Valley, McBryde Garden, Upper Valley fruit orchard (Food for Thought area), west side of Lawai Stream. Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Tree 6 m w low, full spreading crown, trunk ca. 25 cm diam. Leaves dark glossy green above w yellow midrib & veins, latex white. Male inflorescence pale green. Fruits subglobose, light green, surface pebbled. Flesh white, seedless. Origin Kosrae, F.S.M., D Ragone 558. Lorence, D.H. 10730 Kauai BISH 2018-02-12
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