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Artocarpus kemando Miq.
| Family Name: | Moraceae |
| Synonyms: | Artocarpus brunneifolia Moore, Artocarpus maingayi King, Artocarpus sumatranus Jarrett |
| Common Name: | Squirrel's Jack, Cempedak Air |
Artocarpus kemando, also known as Squirrel's Jack, is a critically endangered tree in Singapore. It can reach up to 35 m tall. Despite its stature, the compound fruit is one of the smallest in its genus and they are eaten and dispersed by small mammals and birds.
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 35 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Thailand, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Borneo |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree up to 35 m tall, with short buttresses. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its spirally arranged, stalked leaves have leathery leaf blades that are oval to almost drop-shaped, 3–18 by 1.5–10 cm, distinctly tipped, and sparsely covered with fine, white hairs. Its leaf parts also exude white latex when damaged. |
| Flowers | The species is monoecious, bearing both male and female flowers on the same plant. Its flowering cluster (head) is found singly, or in pairs, at leaf axils, or on twigs behind the leaves. The male flower heads are cylindrical, and 2–4 cm long. |
| Fruit | Its fruit cluster (infructescence) is ellipsoid to rather rounded, up to 4.5 by 3.5 cm, and found at leaf axils, or twigs behind the leaves. The cluster bears ellipsoid fruits that are up to 8 mm long each. |
| Habitat | It grows in lowland evergreen forests up to 900 m altitude, often in swampy places. It occurs locally in the Central Catchment Nature Reseve including Nee Soon Swamp Forest. |
| Associated Fauna | Its fruits are eaten by tree-living mammals such as civet cats, monkeys, and squirrels. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Greek artos, bread; Greek karpos, fruit, hence breadfruit, Artocarpus altilis; kemando, the Sumatran vernacular name of this species |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The fruits are edible. Timber & Products: Household utensils, and door or window frames may be made using the timber, also known as terap. Others: The latex is substituted for coconut oil in cooking. Bird-lime can also be made using the latex. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for planting in parks and gardens. |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Foliar Modification | Stipule |
| 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 |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
|---|
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Green - Light Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Rough |
| Fruit Classification | Multiple Fruit |
| Fruit Type |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31788 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6188 |
| 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. |
