Highlights today at the park - 23 June'15

A tiny blue fungi
Location : Zone A

The Cempedak tree ( Artocarpus champeden) starting to bear fruit- a hybrid variety (Cempedak Madu).  The fruits (aril)  are very sweet and juicy.
Location : Zone C

A large white fungi
Location : Zone D

The Artocarpus fruit trees

Cempedak - Artocarpus champeden
Alt: Artocarpus integer
Zone G: Cempedak Hill

There are four species of the 'bread fruit' genera (Artocarpus) that are planted for posterity and production purposes at the park.  The most unique among them to me is the 'Ong Lumok' (Bintulu Melanau) which is also called as 'Terap' in Malay.  Others in the line up are the 'Cempedak' (Artocarpus integer), 'Nangka' or Jackruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) and the 'Sukun' or Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis).  Artocarpus belong to the fig family (Moraceae).  The genus 'Artocarpus' is named after the Greek word; artos = bread, karpos = fruit.  For many people of the Pacific islands the popularity of the breadfruit as the 'staff of life' has been recognised over generations being their staple food, like rice for orientals.    Artocarpus trees tend to be cauliflory whereby  many in the genus bear flowers and fruits on trunks or branches.  All Artocarpus trees have a  peculiar form of flower head which resembles a bur on a stalk.  This structure bears flowers so small that they have to be dissected under a microscope.  For more images of Sarawak's unique fruits, check them out in another blog of mine here ...>>>http://mysarawak2.blogspot.com/p/unique-fruits.html

Ong Lumok - Artocarpus odoratissimus

Nangka - Artocarpus heterophyllus

Leaves of the Sukun or Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis)

Cempedak muda masak lemak

Young Cempedak fruits on trees in the park

Fried paste

 "Cempedak muda masak lemak" is the Malay name for the cooking of young cempedak fruits in coconut milk ( 'santan' in Malay) with shrimp paste ('belacan') pounded with garlic, shallots, chillies and anchovies.  Currently the cempedak trees are beginning to bear its seasonal fruits.  For the purpose of making this dish young cempedak fruits have to be cut into small pieces and boiled first.  After about 20 minutes of boiling, mix in the fried paste and coconut milk.  Keep on boiling for another 10 minutes to have it perfectly cooked.  Add in a pinch of salt before serving.  Eating the 'Cempedak muda masak lemak' is one of the little pleasures of life at the park that gives  big satisfaction......yummy, yummy, yummy.

Young and unripe Cemepdak fruits are sliced into small pieces...

Boiled Cempedak and Belacan ( shrimp paste)

Add in coconut milk or 'Santan'..

Served the dish hot.....with rice, fried salted fish in ginger and little slices of Jackfruit for dessert.

What's fruiting at the park?

Young fruits of the "Cempedak" (Artocarpus champeden), borne on a tree planted more than 60 years ago.

 Coming towards the end of the year there would be a series of local fruits that will come in season.  At the park right now are many Cempedak trees that are gradually bearing small fruits.  These unripe fruits can be eaten as vegetables but better leave them maturing on the branches and trunks to enjoy their sweet and juicy pulp later.  At the park there are about a dozen of these fruit trees that have been planted more than 60 years ago.  I do plant many more since about 5 years ago to add to the collection and many among them also start to bear fruits.  In another blog I wrote about 'smoking' the cempedak fruits....go here to learn how it is done...>>>>http://myussop.blogspot.com/2009/11/smoking-cempedak-fruit.html

At the background on the right hand corner  are the tall Cempedak trees.