Common Name: Monkey Jackfruit

General Information

Monkey jackfruit is a tall, evergreen tree that can grow up to a height of 45 metres. He straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 90cm in diameter, with buttresses up to 300cm high[, ].
The tree is commonly harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. The wood is harvested commercially as a source of keledang timber, and the tree is occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit, especially in Malaysia and Indonesia[, , ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southeast Asia - Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

An upper canopy tree in undisturbed to disturbed mixed dipterocarp forests, growing on hillsides and ridges, but also on alluvial and swampy sites, often near streams; usually at elevations up to 500 metres, but occasionally to 900 metres[, , ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of hot tropical climates[].
In general, species in this genus prefer a deep, well-drained soil; young plants need some shade, but need increasing light levels as they mature[].

Edible Uses

The roundish fruit has a pleasant flavour[]. The sweet orange flesh is usually eaten raw[, ]. It is sweet and juicy[]. The fruit is usually up to 7cm in diameter, but can be up to 13cm[].

Seeds - roasted[]. A sweet flavour[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants can be used as a rootstock for the jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)[].

Other Uses

The sticky latex is mixed with wax and used in Batik work[, ].

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood[]. It is used for textiles[].

The wood is a source of keledang timber[]. We have no further information for this species, but the general description of keledang is as follows:-
The heartwood is yellow-brown to orange-red, darkinging to golden brown; it is clearly demarcated from the 5 - 7cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is coarse; the grain straight or interlocked; there is a lustrous, ribbon-like aspect. The wood is fairly heavy, fairly hard, durable, being moderately resistant to fungi and resistant to termites and dry wood borers. It seasons somewhat slowly with a high risk of distortion and a slight risk of checking; once dry it is moderately stable to stable in service. It has a fairly high blunting effect upon tools, stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide are recommended; the surface is fibrous and filling is recommended; it takes screws and nails poorly; glues correctly. The wood is used for furniture, house building, turnery, light carpentry, interior joinery and panelling, boxes and crates, boats etc[, ]. It is used for making high class coffins in Malaysia[].

Propagation

Seed - best extracted from ripe fruits and sown immediately as they cannot withstand desiccation and lose viability within a few weeks[]. There is no period of dormancy, the seed usually germinating immediately[].

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