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Description and Origin

Treculia africana is a tree species which is known under the name African breadfruit. A lot of tribal names are given to this species, but the most popular is "ukwa".

The geographical distribution of treculia afriacana is in Africa : Senegal, south of Sudan, Angola, Nigeria, west and central Africa. The species can grow until 1500 m altitude.

Botanical characteristics

Treculia africana is a large tree and is part of the family Moraceae and grows in wet areas or in forests. This species grows up to a height of 30 meters. The girth of the stem can attain 6 meters. The bark is grey and discharges a cream latex. The leaves are large, alternate, dark green above and lighter below. This tree is monoecious dicotyledonous plant which means that the female and male flower grow on the same plant. The flowering period is from October until February. The fruit is big, round and greenish yellow. The texture of the fruit is spongy when it is ripe and it contains a lot of seeds. Under good enrivonmental condition, the yield from one tree could attain 200 kg dried seeds.

Uses

Human food

The African breadfruit is an edible traditional fruit for example in Nigeria, where it is eaten as main dish. The seeds are particularly interesting because of the high nutritious values. Fresh seeds contain 38.3% carbohydrate, 17.7% crude protein and 15.9 % fat. Readily available, in developing countries treculia afriacana it could be an alternative to rice and yam. The seeds of treculia africana can be ground to flour, pressed to oil or used as flavouring in alcoholic drinks.

It will be prouved that African breadfruit a good source for adjunct in brewing, because it's a source of fermentable sugar. To have success with the brewing methods, the study of Nwabueze et al. (2011) find that the yield production of ethanol will be enhanced when it's defatting seeds.

Wood products

The wood is used for several usages, such as firewood, for furniture or for constructions. But it can also be used to process it to paper.

Alternative medicine

Different parst of the plant are used for medicine like the roots, bark, leaves. The tree is used to treat malaria, worms, coughs and digestive disorders.

Fodder

In countries like Malawi and Tanzania, the fruit-head pulp and bran are used to feed monkeys and farm animals.

Environmental functions

This tree helps to control erosion and is a good natural fount of mulch. However, deforestation, higher demand for agriculture area and the increasing population reduce this important forest tree from the African tropics.

The traditional farming system try to involve the cultural practices of field with mixed cropping. For example the complete burning of land as an erosion effect which can be minimize with the advantages of the trees.