Breadfruit

Breadfruit, common name for a tropical tree (see Mulberry), grown on the islands of the South Pacific Ocean. Its fruit is the principal staple crop of the area. The fruit, about the size of a small melon, has a rough rind and a white, mealy pulp. The pulp when baked is somewhat sweet, with a soft texture. The pulp may also be dried and ground to make biscuits, bread, and puddings. The tree grows to a height of about 12 m (about 40 ft); has long, leathery, glossy, green, incised leaves; and bears distinct male and female flowers in separate clusters. Cloth is made from the inner bark; furniture and canoes are made from the soft, light wood; and the milky sap is used in a waterproofing compound.

Scientific classification: The breadfruit tree belongs to the family Moraceae. It is classified as Artocarpus altilis.