Artocarpus lacucha

Lakoocha (Artocarpus lacucha)
Scientific name	Artocarpus lacucha [1]
Common name	Mai had [2]
Genus	Artocarpus
Family	Moraceae
Order	Rosales
Growth form	Deciduous fruit tree
Native range	South and Southeast Asia, from China and India through mainland Southeast Asia to Indonesia [3]
Mature size	About 6–18 m [3]
Climate/site	Humid tropical; forest sites from near sea level to about 1,800 m [3]
Propagation	Fresh seed; root cuttings; air layering [3]
Fruit	Sub-acid, up to about 7.5 cm long [3]
Harvest	Gathered or locally marketed; timing follows locality and plant condition [3]

Artocarpus lacucha is a deciduous Asian fruit tree known as lakoocha and monkey jack. It develops a dense, spreading crown and is grown or gathered mainly for its edible fruit. ^[3] GBIF lists Artocarpus lacucha as an accepted species. ^[4]

Description

The tree is usually about 6–18 m tall and develops a broad, dense crown. Its native habitats include evergreen, semievergreen, and moist deciduous forests; limestone mountain forest is recorded in southern Yunnan, and the species occurs to about 1,800 m in other parts of its range. ^[3]

Cultivation

Soil and water

In nature, Artocarpus lacucha occurs in forest soils, including limestone mountain settings. Begin with deep, permeable soil that holds moisture without remaining stagnant. Maintain dependable moisture during establishment, especially for container plants, while preserving good drainage. ^[3]

Sun and humidity

The species is associated with humid tropical conditions. Young plants benefit from shade and a sheltered site; keep new plantings evenly watered while they establish before exposing them to more open conditions. ^[3]

Seasonal changes

The tree is deciduous, so irrigation and protection should follow the seasonal rhythm of the local climate. During a drier interval, maintain even moisture for young trees and container specimens without turning the root zone stagnant. Flowering and harvest timing vary with locality and plant condition. ^[3]

Propagation

Seed loses viability quickly and is best sown as soon as it is ripe. Fresh seed germinates best at about 24–27 °C; seedlings can be raised in containers and planted out at roughly 20–25 cm tall. Root cuttings and air layering are also recorded propagation methods. ^[3]

A laboratory study published under the name Artocarpus lakoocha compared BAP and meta-topolin on MS medium. BAP gave better shoot multiplication; 0.5 mg L−1 BAP produced a reported mean of 5.42 shoots, 2.25 cm shoot length, and 2.48 nodes after six months, while higher concentrations produced callus. This result describes an in-vitro experiment and does not validate outdoor root-cutting or air-layering performance. ^[5]

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest

Fruit is gathered from wild trees and sold in local markets in parts of the range. Harvest timing follows locality and plant condition rather than a single schedule. ^[3]

Fruit and uses

The fruit has a pleasant sub-acid flavor and may be eaten raw; it is also used in curries and chutneys. Fruits may reach about 7.5 cm in length. The male inflorescence is acidic and astringent and is sometimes pickled or included in curry mixtures. ^[3]

Photos

References

• ↑ [1] GBIF species match: Artocarpus lacucha.

• ↑ [2] Plants of the World Online: Artocarpus lacucha.

• ↑ [3] Artocarpus lacucha | Useful Tropical Plants.

• ↑ [4] GBIF species record: Artocarpus lacucha.

• ↑ [5] Gupta and Biraji, In vitro propagation of Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb.: effect of meta-topolin on shoot parameters.

Image credits

• Artocarpus lacucha KR.JPG — Krish Dulal, CC BY-SA 3.0; individual file page. Caption: a twig of Artocarpus lacucha in Nepal.

• Artocarpus lacucha Buch.- Ham.jpg — Silviculture South, CC BY-SA 4.0; individual file page. Caption: Artocarpus lacucha foliage and young growth.

• Artocarpus lacucha বহঁত.jpg — Chiring chandan, CC BY-SA 4.0; individual file page. Caption: Artocarpus lacucha plant material.