Breadfruit

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis, Moraceae) is a tree native to East Indian and Pacific islands, but it has been widely planted in tropical regions everywhere. It was first collected and distributed by Capt. William Bligh as one of the botanical samples collected by HMS Bounty in the early 19th century.

It is an attractive shade tree with large leaves deeply cut into pinnate lobes. The large ovoid fruit have a rough surface, and each fruit is divided into many achenes, each achene surrounded by a fleshy perianth and growing on a fleshy receptacle. They are very rich in starch, and before being eaten they are roasted or boiled. Some selectively bred varieties have seedless fruit.

Breadfruit is a staple food in the West Indies.