Aiyini, ayani in Malayalam, is the wild jack, a tall evergreen tree found only in the Western Ghats. Its small, spiky, orange fruit has sweet, fragrant segments and roasted seeds like jackfruit. Its strong, durable timber was used for Kerala’s traditional houses and for the long chundan vallam snake boats. It is a cousin of jackfruit, pala, with much smaller fruit.
- Botanical name
- Artocarpus hirsutus Lam.
- Family
- Moraceae
- Tamil
- Aiyini
- Hindi
- Wild kathal
- Parts used
- Fruit, Seeds, Timber
- Habit
- Western Ghats wild jack, a tall forest tree with small spiky fruit
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Anjili
It is a tall evergreen tree, often twenty-five to thirty-five metres, with a straight trunk and milky latex.
The leaves are large, leathery and oval, with rough, hairy undersides.
Male flower heads are long and finger-like; female heads are round.
The fruit is round to oval, about the size of a tennis ball, covered in soft spines, turning orange-yellow when ripe.
Jackfruit fruits are many times larger and less spiny.
Traditional use of Anjili
Kitchen
Ripe fruit segments are eaten fresh, and the seeds are roasted or boiled like jackfruit seeds.
Kerala food practice
Timber
Aini wood was used for pillars and doors of traditional Kerala houses and for snake boats raced on the backwaters.
Kerala craft practice
Modern notes on Anjili
The timber resists decay and termites, which made it valuable and led to heavy felling.
The species is now uncommon outside protected forests and old homesteads.
Fruit extracts have been studied in laboratories, but the main uses remain food and timber.
Anjili safety
The ripe fruit and cooked seeds are safe foods. The sticky latex is easier to handle with oiled hands.
Ecology and sourcing
It is endemic to the evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of the Western Ghats.
Hornbills, Malabar giant squirrels and monkeys eat the fruit and spread the seeds.
Old trees in homesteads keep the species alive outside forests.
Related plants
Also in Moraceae
Questions about Anjili
Is wild jack a jackfruit?
It is a relative with small, spiky fruit.
Where does Anjili grow?
Only in the Western Ghats.
Can the fruit of Anjili be eaten?
Yes, the ripe segments and cooked seeds.
Why is the wood valued?
It is strong and resists decay.
Which animals eat Anjili?
Hornbills, giant squirrels and monkeys.
Sources
- Artocarpus hirsutus Lam. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q3595140 (Artocarpus hirsutus)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.