Marang

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Marang >

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Read about Marang in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Marang, Artocarpus odoratissima, of the family Moraceae, is a recently discovered fruit-tree from the southern Philippines and the Sulu Archipelago, which has been introduced to the United States and is thought to possess considerable value for tropical regions, though it will probably succeed only in very warm and humid climates. It belongs to the same genus as the bread-fruit (A. incisa,) and the jak, or jack-fruit (A. integrifolia), but is said by Wester, who first brought it to the attention of horticulturists, to produce a fruit superior in quality to the Philippine forms of either of these. The tree is medium-sized, and similar in habit to the bread-fruit, with large, dark green, entire or trilobate leaves 18 to 24 inches long by 10 to 12 inches broad. Wester describes the fruit as "large, about 6 inches long and 5 inches in equatorial diameter, roundish oblong, regular, thickly studded on the outside with soft greenish yellow spines 1/3 inch in length; rind thick and fleshy; flesh white, sweet, rich, juicy, aromatic and of good flavor, separated into segments (of about the size of a grape) clinging to the core, each segment containing a seed; the seeds many, whitish, 1/3 by 3/5 of an inch, smooth, separating readily from the flesh. When the fruit is ripe, by passing a knife around and through the rind, with a little care the halves may be separated from the flesh, leaving this like a bunch of white grapes." It is said to ripen during August in the Philippines. For species related to A. odoratissima Blanco see the articles artocarpus pages 401,402, Vol. I. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Johey Oak
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Morales Family: Moraceae Genus: Artocarpus Species: A. odoratissimus
Binomial name
Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco

The Johey Oak (Artocarpus odoratissimus), also called Marang and Tarap, is a tree related to Jackfruit, Cempedak, and Breadfruit, native to Borneo.

It is an evergreen tree growing to 25 m tall. The leaves are 16-50 cm long and 11-28 cm broad, similar to the Breadfruit's, but are a little less lobed.

As indicated by the scientific name, the fruit has a strong scent. The fruit is delicious, soft flavoured and can be appreciated from the first bite. The fruit is considered superior in flavour to both Jackfruit and Cempedak.

The appearance of the fruit can be regarded as an intermediate shape between the jackfruit and the breadfruit. The fruit 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. The fruit does not fall to the ground when ripe. It may be harvested while still hard, and left to ripen until soft. Marangs change colour to greenish yellow when ripe. The ripe fruit is opened by cutting the rind around. Twisting and gently pulling the halves complete the operation. The interior of the fruit is somewhat similar to the jackfruit's, but the colour is whitish. The core is relatively large, but there are 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 marang should be consumed quickly (in a few hours), as it loses flavour rapidly and fruit oxidises. The seeds are also edible after boiling or roasting.

The tree is not cold tolerant (as is the breadfruit). It can grow between latitude 15º north and south, and in coastal regions where temperatures never stay under 7 ºC. It is cultivated for its fruit in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and southern Thailand. The species is largely grown for local consumption; the short shelf-life of the fruit limits its wider use.

References

• FAO: Under-utilized tropical fruits
• Marang/Tarap with pictures of the fruit