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Page 56 · DO #466 · 204_Popenoe_Bx33FF36r
- Collection
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Wilson Popenoe (1892–1975) family papers
- Item/Folder
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The Nut Fruits, Miscellaneous Fruits - manuscripts, notes, correspondence - chapter in outline for proposed book with Herbert Wolfe, n.d.
- Digital Object
-
DO #466,
page 56
- Collection-level dates
- 1882–1975
Page transcription
Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis)
In Polynesia, only the coconut compares with the breadfruit as a food source, but nowhere else does it rank so high in value. Native to the Malay archipelago, this was one of the food plants taken to the Pacific islands in prehistoric times, where it literally became the staff of life for the Polynesians--of far greater importance than it has ever had in Malaysia or India. Because of the enthusiastic report by Captain Cook's expedition on the ease with which the tree produced large quantities of food with little or no effort on the part of the natives, the British admiralty sent an expedition to Tahiti to introduce the breadfruit to the West Indies. The famous mutiny on the "Bounty" made the first attempt unsuccessful, but four years later, in 1792, Capt. Bligh made a second and very successful voyage which brought hundreds of breadfruit trees to Jamaica. Unfortunately, the fruit has never had in the West Indies more than a small fraction of the popularity which it has in Polynesia, and it is only a very minor food source anywhere in the American tropics, with Jamaica and Puerto Rico leading in production. This is strictly a dooryard tree; nowhere in the world has it ever been planted in orchard form. In Spanish-speaking areas the usual names are arbol del pan or panapén.
Like the mangosteen, the breadfruit is ultratropical in its climatic requirements; Not only is it intolerant of any frost, but it is likely to suffer injury when temperatures hover around 40°F. Only in the tropical lowlands, below 2000 ft., can it succeed. A well-drained soil is essential, and either abundant and well-distributed rainfall or irrigation in dry periods must be present for good production, although mature trees in deep soil tolerate several months of drought. Under favorable conditions, breadfruit trees may yield over 100 lb. of fruit annually.
The tree is a handsome evergreen, reaching 40 to 60 ft., with a thick crown of glossy green foliage. Leaves are very large, from 12 to
