Artocarpus hirsutus Lam.

Artocarpus hirsutus Lam.

Know our Plant

Systematic Classification:

Division   : Angiospermae 
Class      : Dicotyledons
Order      : Rosales
Family     : Moraceae
Genus      : Artocarpus
Species    : heterophyllus

Common name:

Hirsute Artocarpus,Aini,Wild jack, Anjili,Ayani,Anniliayari.

General information:

Artocarpus hirsutus, commonly known as wild jack,is a tropical evergreen tree species that is native to India, primarily in Kerala, but also in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, where it prefers moist, deciduous to partially evergreen woodlands.The Artocarpus hirsutus grows in altitudes ranging from sea level to an elevation of 1000 m in places with an annual rainfall of 1500 mm or more. They are endemic to the Western Ghats and are found in its evergreen forests. The canopy tree can reach a height of up to 35 m and about 4.5 m in girth.The tree is prized for its durable timber which is comparable in quality with teak. The timber was used extensively in the construction of ceilings, door frames and furniture in older buildings, especially in Kerala The famous snake boats of Kerala are often hewn out of the Aini’s wood.140 tons of A. hisutus wood from Kerala was used for Tim Severin’s ship Sohar, in which he traveled from Muscat to Canton in 1980-81.Its flowers are, unisexual, in axillary inflorescences and its fruits are syncarps and very sweet, changing to an orange hue when ripe. Its simple, alternate leaves will ooze latex if broken. It is harvested for its wood.

Economic Importance:

  • The Artocarpus species are rich in phenolic compounds including flavonoids, stilbenoids, arylbenzofurons and Jacalin, a lectin.
  • Wild jack in Ayurvedic medicine pacifies vitiated vata(the air quality present within the human body) and pitta (bile present within the body), anorexia, burning sensation of extremities and sexual weakness. Unriped fruit cause vitiation of tridosha (three types of substances that are important in balancing the human body and health according to ayurveda).