The jackfruit, also known as the jack tree is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family native to southwest India. It is scientifically known as Artocarpus heterophyllus. The jackfruit tree, also known as the kos of Sri Lanka, has been firmly rooted in the fertile soil of the country for centuries. It is a large tree that can grow up to 50 feet in height, with strong trunks and long branches that make it the largest tree fruit in the world. The jackfruit is well adapted to the tropical lowlands and is widely grown in the tropics of the world. Jackfruit tree information is found in India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, Kenya, Uganda, and Mauritius. They are also found in Brazil, Jamaica, the Bahamas, South Florida, and Hawaii.
A mature jackfruit tree produces about 200 fruits a year, while older trees bear about 500 fruits a year. The jackfruit is a multi-fruit with hundreds of thousands of single flowers and the fleshy petals of the ripe fruit are eaten. Ripe fruits are sweet and are often used for dessert. Jackfruit is widely used in South and Southeast Asian cuisine. Consumes both ripe and unripe fruits. Jackfruit is a national fruit of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and is a state fruit of the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. As a variety of fruit products such as noodles and chips, it is available internationally in canned or frozen and chilled meals.
Jackfruit grows large and usually weighs more than 10 pounds. The jackfruit usually has a greenish tinge and turns dark brownish-yellow near ripening. It has hundreds of seeds and is tightly packed and the meat that covers the seeds is usually consumed, but even the seeds are used and eaten fried or boiled. At every stage of its development, young, mature, and fully ripened, Sri Lankans have found strategies to make the most of it. Golden yellow wood with good grains is used for furniture and house construction. It is superior to tectona for making furniture because it is time-proof. The wood of the jackfruit tree is important in Sri Lanka and is exported to Europe. Jackfruit is widely used in the manufacture of furniture, doors, and windows, roofing, and the manufacture of musical instruments.
