It is about 6 1/2 inches (17 cm) long. It has a thick rind with soft, short protrusions on it. The protrusions get hard and brittle as the fruit ripens. The skin ripens from green to yellow-green. Inside, it is like jackfruit, but with more edible flesh portions. The flesh is juicy and mild-tasting; the seeds can be eaten after being roasted or boiled.
The Marang tree is an evergreen, growing up to 80 feet (25 metres) tall, with a trunk up to 16 inches (40 cm) wide. It is hardy down to only about 44 F (7 C.) The leaves grow up to 11 inches (28 cm) long.
The tree can grow from seed, but needs 4 to 6 years of growth before it will start bearing fruit. The seeds don’t remain viable for long.
Flowers appear on new growth.
The fruit can be harvested when still it is still hard. It will soften off the tree.
The flesh darkens when exposed to the air.
History Notes
Native to south-east Asia.