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Fruits & Vegetables

Marang

Botanical Name: Artocarpus odoratissimus
Family: Moraceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Rosales
Genus: Artocarpus
Species: A. odoratissimus

Synonyms:
Artocarpus mutabilis Becc.
Artocarpus tarap Becc.

Common Names: Marang, Johey oak, Green pedalai, Madang, Tarap, or Timadang, Terap

Habitat: Marang is native to Borneo, Palawan, and Mindanao Island. It grows in the Secondary forests up to 1,000 metres altitude on sandy clay soils in Thailand. ( Evergreen forests Southeast Asia – Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.)

Description:
Marang is a large tropical evergreen tree growing to 25 metres (82 ft) tall. The leaves are 16–50 cm long and 11–28 cm broad, similar to the Breadfruit’s, but are a little less lobed. Many trees lose the leaf lobing once mature.…CLICK & SEE

Fruit:……....CLICK & SEE
As indicated by the scientific name, the fruit has a strong scent, and is considered superior in flavour to both jackfruit and cempedak. The scent reminds some of the durian but is not so intense, and is in the thick skin and not the fruit pulp. The taste has hints of a mild creamy, almost juicy banana, and is best when not allowed to ripen thoroughly on the tree. Those ripened on the tree turn a more brownish color and will eventually fall to the ground and easily split open.

The appearance of the fruit can be regarded as an intermediate shape between the jackfruit and the breadfruit. It is round to oblong, 15–20 cm long and 13 cm broad, and weighing about 1 kg. The thick rind is covered with soft, broad spines. They become hard and brittle as the fruit matures. When fully mature the expanding arils stretch the outer rind which often appears lumpy, especially if not all seeds were pollinated. The fruit does not fall to the ground until over-ripe. It may be harvested when full size but still firm, and left to ripen until soft. Fruits change colour to greenish yellow when ripe. The ripe fruit is opened by cutting the rind around, twisting and gently pulling. If overripe they are simply pulled apart. The interior of the fruit is somewhat similar to the jackfruit’s, but the color is white and the flesh is usually softer. The core is relatively large, but there are far fewer “rags” and less non-edible parts. Arils are white and the size of a grape, each containing a 15 × 8 mm seed. Once opened, the fruit should be consumed quickly (in a few hours), as it loses flavour rapidly and fruit oxidizes. The seeds are also edible after boiling or roasting.

Cultivation:
Artocarpus odoratissimus is cultivated for its fruit in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, southern Thailand and India Tripura. The species is largely grown for local consumption; the short shelf-life of the fruit limits its wider use.

The tree is not cold tolerant (as is the breadfruit). It can grow between latitude 15° north and south, and in coastal regions where temperatures never stay under 7 °C.

Edible Uses:
Edible portion: Fruit, Seeds, Nuts. The ripe fruits are fleshy, aromatic, sweet and juicy – similar to the jackfruit (A. heterophyllus) but of much better quality. Usually eaten as a dessert fruit, they are considered to be the finest fruit in Brunei. The unripe fruit can be eaten as a boiled vegetable. The roundish to oblong fruit is quite large, averaging about 16cm long and 13cm in diameter. The rind of the fruit is said to be edible. Thick and fleshy. Seed – roasted or boiled and eaten. Seeds boiled for 30 minutes in salty water have a delicious nutty flavour. Roasted seeds have a flavour similar to sweet chestnuts. The whitish seed is about 8 _ 15mm in size.

Health Benefits:
Fruits are not just delicious but also provides numerous health benefits. As because of its rich nutritional content, it is also oozing with health benefits which include:

*Marang lowers blood pressure
*Marang reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke
*Marang prevents cancer
*Marang reduces the risk of acquiring eye problems
*Marang helps regular blood sugar
*Marang is good for your digestive system as it contains indigestible fiber that provides better water absorption
*Marang promotes regular bowel movements, prevents and provides fast constipation relief

Other Uses:
The large leaves are used as thatch, to make partitions in long houses, and for temporary field huts.

We have no specific information for this species, but it belongs to a group of species whose timber is known as ‘terap’ The general description of terap timber is as follows:-

The heartwood is yellow to pale brown; it is usually not differentiated from the sapwood. The texture is moderately coarse to coarse and even; the grain is interlocked. The wood is non-durable under tropical conditions. It seasons fairly slowly, with high shrinkage and slight bowing, cupping and checking. It is generally easy to work; saws well; planes easily but leaves a rough finish on radial surfaces; bores and turns easily, but leaves a rough finish;nailing property is good; can be peeled satisfactorily and is suitable for plywood production. Locally, the wood is used for light construction, for making boxes, crates, wooden pallets and veneer. The wood is sometimes nicely figured and therefore is suitable for decorative purposes like furniture, joinery and panelling.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artocarpus_odoratissimus
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Artocarpus+odoratissimus
https://www.kwentongofw.com/2017/03/01/health-benefits-marang/
http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Artocarpus+odoratissimus

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