Breadfruit

The fruit of a tree in the South Sea islands that is about the size of a melon and whose whitish pulp (with the consistency of new bread) requires cooking before it can be eaten. The tree was probably first cultivated from the Philippines to New Guinea, and attained great economic importance in the Polynesian Islands, especially the Marquesas and Tahiti, about 1500-2000 years ago. The fruit was also dried or allowed to ferment, and could then be stored for several years in underground pits. In 1788, Captain William Bligh was attempting to take breadfruit saplings from Tahiti to the West Indies when the famous mutiny on HMS Bounty occurred.

The breadfruit tree (Artocarpus altilis) provides a large, starchy fruit which requires cooking before it can be eaten. The tree was probably first brought into cultivation in a region extending from the Philippines to New Guinea, and attained its greatest economic importance in the Polynesian Islands, especially the Marquesas and Tahiti, whither it was presumably carried by the first settlers C1500-2000 years ago. The fruit was also dried or allowed to ferment, and could then be stored for several years in underground pits (especially in the Marquesas). In 1788 Captain William Bligh was attempting to take breadfruit saplings from Tahiti to the West Indies when the famous mutiny on HMS Bounty occurred.