Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco, Fl. Filip. (1837)

Synonyms
Artocarpus mutabilis Becc.
Artocarpus tarap Becc.

Diagnostics
Tree with abundant white sap. Stipules surrounding the twigs, leaving circular scar when dropped. Leaves alternate, simple (lobed when young) to 3-lobed, large, roughly hairy. Fruit placed on branches, c. 16 x 13 cm diameter, spiny, greenish-yellow, with seeds placed in white-orange flesh. One of the best tasting Artocarpus fruits.

Description
Evergreen tree, up to 39 m tall, 45 cm diameter, sometimes with low buttresses. Twigs 4-10 mm thick with long, yellow to red, spreading hairs and stipule-scar rings. Stipules ovate, 1-8 cm long, yellow to red hairy. Leaves broadly elliptic to obovate, 16-50 cm x 11-28 cm, cuneate at base to slightly decurrent, margin entire or shallowly crenate, apex blunt or shortly acuminate, upper half often 3-lobed; both surfaces roughly hairy, lateral veins 13-15 pairs; petiole 2-3 cm long; juvenile leaves pinnatifid. Inflorescences in leaf axils, solitary; male heads ellipsoid to clavate, 4-11 cm x 2-6 cm; female heads with pubescent peltate bracts mostly shed and simple styles exserted to 1.5 mm. Fruit (syncarp) subglobose, up to 16 cm x 13 cm, green-yellow, densely covered with stiff, hairy processes of about 1 cm length; wall ca. 8 mm thick; flesh (fruiting perianths) white, juicy, fragrant; peduncle 5-14 cm long. Pericarps (including the seeds) ellipsoid, about 12 mm x 8 mm; germination hypogeal. [from PROSEA]

Ecology
In Sarawak it is common in secondary forests up to 1000 m altitude on sandy clay soils. In the Philippines it grows best in regions with abundant and equally distributed rainfall on rich loamy, well-drained soils. It is found in partially shaded locations from sea-level to 800 m elevation.

Uses
The large fruit is esteemed for the sweet, juicy, aromatic perianths surrounding the seeds, which can be eaten fresh or used as an ingredient in cakes. The fruit is said to have a finer and more delicate flavour than the jackfruit. The seeds are eaten roasted or boiled; boiled seeds (30 minutes in salty water) have a delicious nutty flavour. Young fruits are also cooked in coconut milk and eaten as a curried vegetable. Leaves used magically to drive away evil female spirits. In Sarawak, the latex is used to treat inflammation from wounds.

Distribution
Borneo and the Philippines. Although the marang was described from and is better known in the Philippines, its distribution there is limited (Mindoro, Mindanao, Basilan and the Sulu Archipelago) and it was probably introduced from Borneo. In the Philippines the species occurs only cultivated, but in Borneo it is also common in the wild state.

Local names
Borneo: Benturung, Jarap hutan, Kian, Pi-ien, Pingan, Terap, Timadang.
English: Marang.
Indonesia, Malaysia (Borneo): terap (Malay), pingan (Iban), pi-ien (Bidayuh), keiran (Kelabit).
Philippines: marang (Sulu), madang (Lanao), loloi (Tagalog).