Monkey jack / Lakooch

Artocarpus lakoocha

Beng: Dephal / Deuya; Hindi: Barhal

A mid-sized deciduous tree with large leathery dark green leaves, an untidy canopy. In late Feb, the tree is studded with yellow flowers (which looks like fruit)

Bark: Brown, unremarkable

Leaf: Large (up to a foot) dark green, leathery, rough on top wooly underneath, on short (often bent) stalk

Flower: In leafless tree in late Feb/early Mar. Male & female separately. Male flowers are one-inch-long orangish yellow spongy drupe which is shed soon. Female flowers reddish and have round heads.

Fruit: Lumpy, yellow up to 13 cm in diameter

Season: During the cold season, the leaves fall, but are replaced in late Feb or Mar, at which time the flowers also appear. The orangish yellow drupe of male flowers appear making the tree conspicuous. Fruits ripe in early rains

Range/habitat: This tree is a native of most of the damper parts of the plains of India Malaya, and Sri Lanka.

Trivia and notes: Once this tree used to be cultivated for its fruit but now it is not of commercial value, nevertheless, acts as food for wildlife (and sometimes children!). It is a close cousin of jackfruit (same genus)

Where to find: Rabindra sarobar has many monkey jack trees mostly self-sown. One leaning tree on the right side while going towards gate no 4 (the one closest to Safari Park entrance). 22.51338N,88.35945E

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