Breadfruit (lemmai)

Breadfruit trees are evergreens and can grow to heights of 15 to 21 meters (48 to 70 ft) or more. The trunks may be as large as 2 meters (6.6 ft) in diameter at the base. The trees are fast growing, begin bearing fruit in three to five years and are productive for many decades. They are easy to propagate and require little maintenance. They can be grown under a wide range of ecological conditions. This species of breadfruit is distinguished by an absence of seeds in the fruit and by large, deeply lobed leaves.

Traditional Uses

Traditionally, CHamoru cut breadfruit into thin slices and dried them in the sun or an oven. These could be kept for long periods and eaten during the season when the fresh fruit was lacking. The dried slices could be eaten without further preparation or incorporated into other dishes. Boiling, baking, frying, or cooking in an earth oven are some of the many ways to prepare it.

Other uses for the tree include:

• building canoes out of the trunks
• firewood
• wrapping food in the large leaves
• using the sticky white latex as an adhesive
• burning the dried male flowers to repel mosquitos and other flying insects