Artocarpus integer

Artocarpus integer

The chempedak or cempedak (Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr.) is an arboreal species belonging to the Moraceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Magnoliophyta division,
Class Magnoliopsida,
Rosales Order,
Moraceae family,
Genus Artocarpus,
Species A. integer.
The term is basionym:
– Radermachia integra Thunb..
The terms are synonyms:
– Artocarpos macrocarpon (Thunb.) Dancer;
– Artocarpus champeden (Lour.) Spreng.;
– Artocarpus champeden (Lour.) Stokes;
– Artocarpus hirsutissimus Kurz;
– Artocarpus integrifolia L.fil.;
– Artocarpus jaca Miq.;
– Artocarpus pilosus Reinw.;
– Artocarpus pilosus Reinw. ex Miq.;
– Artocarpus polyphemus Pers.;
– Polyphema champeden Lour.;
– Saccus champeden (Lour.) Kuntze;
– Saccus integer (Thunb.) Kuntze;
– Sitodium macrocarpon Thunb..

Etymology –
The term Artocarpus comes from the Greek words ἄρτος, artos, i.e. bread and καρπός, carpos, i.e. fruit, with reference to the taste of the fruit after cooking of the Artocarpus altilis species.
The specific epithet integer comes from the Latin integer, i.e. whole, in reference to the margins of the leaf.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Artocarpus integer is a plant native to South-East Asia, in particular of Borneo, Brunei, Indonesia (Celebes, Irian Jaya, Java, Kalimantan, Moluccas and Sumatra), Peninsular Malaysia, New Guinea, Singapore and Thailand.
Its natural habitat is that of the pluvial forests where it is usually found at altitudes up to 450 metres, occasionally up to 1,200 metres, with a climate characterized by high rainfall distributed throughout the year and possible periodic flooding. In Thailand it is often found on wet slopes.

Description –
Artocarpus integer is an evergreen tree, with a dense and rounded crown, 5-20 m tall with a diameter of the trunk up to about 50-60 cm, with gray-brown bark; all parts of the plant contain a white latex.
The leaves are borne on a 1-3 cm long petiole; they are alternate, simple, of elliptic-obovate shape with entire margin and pointed apex, 5-25 cm long and 3-12 cm broad, coriaceous, of glossy intense green color above, pale green and pubescent below.
The new leaves are enclosed by two stipules (appendages at the base of the leaf which have the main purpose of protecting it during the initial phase of growth) deciduous, oblong-triangular, 6-9 cm long, of dark green colour; twigs, petioles, stipules and leaves are provided with bristly brown hairs, up to about 3 mm long.
The inflorescences are solitary unisexual on the same plant, carried directly on the trunk or on the branches (caulifloria) on short foliate shoots; the male ones are cylindrical racemes, 3-5 cm long and of 1 cm of diameter, with tiny yellowish flowers, the female ones are globose or ellipsoid racemes with numerous tubular flowers.
The anthesis generally occurs in the periods from February to April and then again from August to October in southern Malaysia, unlike in western Java, where they tend to flower in July and August.
The fruit is on a 7-10 cm long peduncle; it is a syncarp (set of several fruits grown together and welded together) with a globose to oblong-cylindrical shape, 20-40 cm long and 10-15 cm in diameter, with the surface covered by short pyramidal tubercles, of a yellowish to orange-yellow colour, which gives off an intense unpleasant odor when ripe, similar to that of Durio zibethinus and Artocarpus heterophyllus.
Each fruit can weigh from 600 to 3,500 g.
The seeds are 15-100 per fruit, ovoid in shape, slightly flattened, of pale brown colour, 2-3 cm long and 1,5-2,5 cm broad, surrounded by a fleshy aril of greenish, yellow or orange colour, edible.

Cultivation –
Artocarpus integer is a fast growing tree that has a variety of uses, but is particularly prized for its edible fruit. It is sometimes grown for this fruit, notably in Jamaica and Kenya but also planted in forestry and sometimes grown as an ornamental.
This plant is an important crop in Malaysia and is also commonly grown in southern Thailand and parts of Indonesia, and has the potential to be used in other areas. It is currently restricted to Southeast Asia, with some trees in Australia and Hawaii.
These trees are normally planted in uneroded, well-drained soils, although they can tolerate temporary flooding. They can grow from sea level to 1,200 meters altitude at temperatures between 13–47 °C and with annual rainfall of 1,250–2,500 mm.
In Malaysia it is usually grown with other fruit trees in smallholder mixed orchard systems and occasionally large fruit plantations.
This plant is adapted to humid lowland tropical climates and prefers deep, well-drained fertile soil.
Young plants need some shade, but need increasing light levels as they mature.
The plant prefers a fairly high groundwater and can survive, as mentioned, periodic flooding even with acidic marsh waters. From a soil point of view, it prefers a pH in the range of 4.5 – 6, tolerating 4 – 6.5.
The tree usually fruits prolifically and is capable of very high yields.
The female flower heads are found only on the cauliflower shoots; most of the male heads form on the shoots on the periphery of the crown. This can make wind pollination easier, even if the pollen is sticky. Insects visit the fragrant male inflorescences, not the nectar-deprived female ones.
Trees begin bearing fruit at 3-6 years for seed-planted trees and at 2-4 years for clonal trees.
From flowering to fruit ripening, it takes about 2-4 months.
The time of harvesting is essential to ensure the quality of the fruit. One of the most reliable ways to determine ripeness is to touch the fruit and hear a dull, hollow sound. Skin color can also be an indicator of maturity, as ripe skins turn from green to a more yellow color. The fruits are ideally harvested before the fall to avoid damage, loss of shelf life and premature ripening. The harvested fruit produces a latex exudate, and is left to drain in the field before being moved from the orchard. The fruit has a short shelf life of 2-3 days.
Trees are normally propagated by bud grafting to maintain the desired genetic traits. Seed propagation is also used but the seeds deteriorate quickly after being removed from the fruit, so they must be planted soon after cleaning.

Customs and Traditions –
Artocarpus integer is a plant known by various common names also in consideration of the area where it grows spontaneously.
It is called: chempedak, small jackfruit (English); banturug manuk, chempedak, mengkahai, nakan, pulutan, temedak (Borneo); atibrhatphala, chakka, kathal, kathar, panasa, panasapandu (India); akam-akam, anaane, campedak, cempedak, cempeudak, cimpedak, cubadak, nangka, tambura, tawerak, temedak (Indonesia); baroh, bankcong, deko, menelang (Malaysia); sonekadat (Myanmar); chempedak, champada (Thailand); mít tố nữ (Vietnam).
The fruit of this plant is sought after for its edible and pulpy pulp, typically yellow/orange in color and rich in beta-carotene. It has a unique sweet taste, similar to that of durian and mango.
The fruit is normally eaten in the areas where it is grown and can be eaten fresh or cooked. Large fruits are often cut into pieces for sale. The seeds can be fried, boiled or grilled, then peeled and eaten with salt. The taste of the seeds is similar to Eleocharis dulcis. The young fruit can be used as a vegetable; in this case, the young fruit is peeled, sliced and boiled, then sometimes seasoned or added as an ingredient to other foods, such as curries. In South and East Kalimantan, Indonesia, people historically consume the lactic acid bacteria fermented inner peel of cempedak, traditionally called dami or mandai. The peel can be processed by peeling the fruit until it appears white, then fermenting the inner peel. Mandai is usually eaten after frying.
The immature fruits are also consumed cooked in coconut milk as a vegetable, the pulp (arill) surrounding the seeds of the ripe fruits, with a pleasant, sweet taste, less acidic and fibrous than that of the jackfruit, is consumed both raw and cooked or variously prepared. The seeds are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, fibers and minerals, they are eaten boiled in salted water and peeled, roasted or fried; flour also has a high nutritional value and can partially replace that of wheat in the preparation of bread.
Leaves and fruits are used in animal feed.
Various parts of the plant are used in the traditional medicine of the indigenous populations for various pathologies; a hydrocarbon, stilbene, with antimalarial properties has been obtained from the leaves.
The wood is of good quality, strong and durable, and is used as a building material for home or boat furnishings.
The wood belongs to a group of woods known as keledang.
Heartwood is yellow-brown to red-orange, dark to golden brown; it is clearly delimited by the 5 – 7 cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is coarse; straight or braided grain; there is a shiny, ribbon-like appearance. The wood is quite heavy, quite hard, durable, being moderately resistant to fungi and resistant to termites and dry wood borers. It ages a little slowly with a high risk of distortion and a slight risk of popping; when dry it is moderately stable to stable in service. It has quite a high blunting effect on tools, stellite and tungsten carbide tips are recommended; the surface is fibrous and filling is recommended; takes screws and nails badly; paste correctly. The wood is used for furniture, construction, turning, light carpentry, joinery and interior paneling, boxes and crates, boats, etc. It is also used to make high-class coffins in Malaysia.
The fibrous bark can be used to make rope.
A yellow dye can also be made from wood; this yellow dye is used to color the habit of Buddhist monks.
Finally, its ornamental characteristics should not be underestimated.
Other uses include agroforestry.
The tree lends itself well to reforestation projects in association with other species.
A resin obtained from the tree is used as a paint material.
The latex obtained from the plant has no value but can be used to make lime.
The tree is good firewood; the calorific value of heartwood without moisture is 5369 kcal/kg of wood.

Method of Preparation –
Artocarpus integer is a tree best known for its fruits which are eaten raw or cooked. The pulp of the ripe fruit is golden yellow, it is rather slimy and strongly odorous, almost like that of durian and has a sweet taste, similar to durian and mango. It is eaten fresh, fried in flour or made into a kind of pudding.
The unripe fruit is used as a cooked vegetable or added to soups.
The ripe seeds are roasted or boiled and eaten as a delicacy; they are rich in starch and have a nutty flavor for some.
The young leaves are cooked and used as a vegetable.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.

Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/156026937/original.jpeg

Attention: The pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not in any way represent a medical prescription; we therefore decline all responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.