African Breadfruit or Breadnut

Treculia africana

Physical Characteristics

Treculia africana is an evergreen Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 30 m (98ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Tropical Africa - Senegal to southern Sudan, Uganda and Kenya, south to northern Angola, Zambia, Mal

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Oil Seed Edible Uses: Milk Oil Seed - cooked[301 ]. A flavour similar to peanuts[335 ]. Eaten as dessert nuts after roasting or boiling, they are also ground into a meal, used in soups and to produce a variety of baked foods such as bread and paste[63 , 303 ]. The seeds are extracted after macerating the fruit in water[303 ]. The grains have an excellent polyvalent dietetic value - the biological value of its proteins exceeds even that of soybeans[303 ]. Numerous seeds about 8mm long are embedded in a massive fruit that can weigh up to 14 kilos[63 ]. A non-alcoholic beverage, almond milk, can be prepared from the powdered seeds, which is recommended as a breakfast drink in Nigeria[303 ]. An edible oil can be extracted from the seed[301 , 303 ].

Medicinal Uses

Anthelmintic Antitussive Febrifuge Laxative Leprosy Odontalgic In Ghana, a root decoction is used as an anthelmintic and febrifuge[303 ]. The caustic sap of male African breadfruit is applied on carious teeth[303 ]. A decoction of the bark is used in the treatment of cough and whooping cough[303 ]. The ground bark, mixed with oil and other plant parts, is used in the treatment of swellings[303 ]. It is also used in the treatment of leprosy and as a laxative[303 ].

Known Hazards

The sap of the male tree is caustic and toxic, though the sap from female trees is used medicinally[307 ].