Breadfruit

Breadfruit trees can reach heights of 26 meters (85 feet). Their sizeable and sturdy leaves are intricately divided into lobes with pinnate patterns. Every portion of the tree yields latex, a substance valuable for maritime caulking purposes.

These trees are of a monoecious nature, housing both male and female flowers on the same tree. Initially, male flowers emerge, followed shortly by the appearance of female flowers. The latter develop into capitula, capable of being pollinated a mere three days later. The key pollinators are fruit bats, although cultivated varieties can bear fruit without pollination. The compound, pseudo-fruit originates from the swollen perianth and is marked by hexagon-like disks, a result of around 1,500 to 2,000 flowers seen on the fruit's skin.
Breadfruit stands as one of the most prolific food-producing plants, with a single tree capable of yielding 200 or more grapefruit-sized fruits per season, requiring minimal care. In the South Pacific, these trees typically produce 50 to 150 fruits annually, often round, oval, or oblong in shape and weighing between 0.25 to 6 kilograms (0.55 to 13.23 pounds). The level of productivity varies between regions with differing moisture levels. Research in Barbados indicates a feasible potential of 15 to 30 tonnes per hectare (6.7 to 13.4 short tons/acre). The ovoid fruit showcases a textured exterior, each fruit encompassing numerous achenes surrounded by a fleshy perianth and situated on a fleshy receptacle. Many selectively bred varieties feature seedless fruit, while seeded types are mainly grown for their edible seeds.Typically, breadfruit is propagated using root cuttings.

Breadfruit boasts an extensive array of varieties and a multitude of common names that differ based on its geographic distribution, and it is cultivated in approximately 90 countries.
Its close counterpart, Artocarpus camansi, stands apart from A. altilis due to its spikier fruits and numerous seeds. Artocarpus mariannensis can be recognized by its elongated dark green fruits with deeper yellow flesh, as well as leaves that are either whole or shallowly lobed.