Utilization of “Benda” (Artocarpus elasticus Reinw. ex Blume) in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia: An Ethnobotanical Case Study

Abstract

Family Moraceae consists of 60 genera, one of which is the genus of Artocarpus. One species of Artocarpus is A. elasticus, known as Benda by local people in Bogor. Its fruit is used as an alternative food but it is still less known. This study was carried out to evaluate the use of A. elasticus in Bogor as food and its surroundings by direct observations in the field and interviews with selected informants and proximate analysis. The results of the study revealed that the fruit and the seeds are eaten like other species of Artocarpus; i.e. A. heterophyllus (Jackfruit), A. champeden, the wood of Benda is used for cabinets and latex to catch birds. A. elasticus is quite rare now, and the seeds have a high carbohydrate content. So there  is a need for intensive cultivation to maintain its sustainability.