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Artocarpus rigidus Blume

Family Name:	Moraceae
Synonyms:	Artocarpus cuspidatus Griff., Artocarpus dimorphophylla Miq., Artocarpus echinata Roxb., Artocarpus kertau Zoll. ex Miq., Artocarpus varians Miq.
Common Name:	Mendeleka, Monkey Jack, Perian, Tampaneh, Tampang, Tampunet, Tapuret, Tempunai

Artocarpus rigidus is a tall native tree which is endangered in Singapore. It produces round spiny fruits which turn from green-yellow to orange when ripe. The orange fruit pulp is edible and said to taste sweet.

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Fruit or Vegetable

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Big (>30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Irregular
Maximum Height	35 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	0.9 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Sumatra, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Borneo
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Coastal Forest, Freshwater Swamp Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree up to 35 m tall and 90 cm wide. It has a dense, heavy, dark green, spreading crown, and short buttresses. Its twigs, leaf stalks, and leaf blade veins on the underside are covered with stiff hairs.
Crown	The crown is dense, heavy and spreading.
Foliage	Its spirally arranged, stalked leaves have leathery blades that are usually oval to drop-shaped, dark shiny green, and 3–30 by 1.5–15 cm, with blunt or slight tips, and narrowed bases. Its leaf parts also exude white latex when damaged.

Flowers	The species is monoecious, bearing both male and female flowers in the leaf axils on the same plant. The male flower clusters (heads) are yellow, flattened, oval, and up to 2.5 cm wide.
Fruit	Its fruiting cluster (infructescence) is round, up to 10 cm wide, and ripens from greenish-yellow to dull-orange. The cluster is covered with stiff, conical spines of the non-reproductive, outer floral parts (perianths). The cluster also bears ellipsoid fruits that are up to 1.5 cm long each. Its seeds are embedded in orange, waxy pulp.
Habitat	It grows in lowland evergreen forests up to 1,000 m altitude. It occurs locally in Nee Soon Swamp Forest, and along Hendon Road.
Associated Fauna	Its fruits are eaten by tree-living mammals such as civet cats, monkeys, and squirrels. It is also the locally preferred food plant for caterpillars of the moth, the jackfruit borer (Diaphania caesalis or Glyphodes caesalis).
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Greek artos, bread; Greek karpos, fruit, hence breadfruit, Artocarpus altilis; Latin rigidus, rigid, referring to the rigid spines on the species’ fruit cluster
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The fleshy pulp around the seed is eaten fresh while the seed is roasted or boiled and eaten. <2>. The pulp is also said to be edible and sweet-tasting. Medicinal: Scientific Evidence of Medicinal Properties Based on an ongoing research on the bioactive compound from Thai plants for the treatment of tropical diseases, Artocarpus rigidus is found to contain anti-microbial properties <1>. Timber & Products: The timber is used for making beams, boats, and furniture. Cultural / Religious: Heritage Trees : There is currently one individual of Artocarpus rigidus listed as a Heritage Tree in Singapore. It can be found at Changi. To find out more about these trees, please visit the Heritage Tree Register. Others: The latex is also used for dyeing calico.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	It can be cultivated in parks and large gardens.
Landscape Uses	General, Parks & Gardens

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Caterpillar Moth Food Plant
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna) (Vertebrates (Other Mammal))

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun, Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Leathery

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate, Spiral
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate, Oval)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute, Obtuse
Foliar Base	Attenuate

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious
Flower Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden, Orange
Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Thorny / Spiny

References

References	<1> Namdaung, U. et. al. (2006). Bioactive Constituents of the Root Bark of Artocarpus rigidus subsp. rigidus. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 54(10):1433-1436. <2> Lim.T.K, 2012. Edible Medicinal and Non-medicinal Plants. Volume 3, Fruits. pp. 348-350. Dordrecht: Springer.

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Master ID	29267
Species ID	3576
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.