DURIAN

(Durio zibethinus) tree of the family Bombacaceae and its fruit. The durian is cultivated in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and southern Thailand. The tree has oblong, tapering leaves, rounded at the base, and yellowish green flowers. Its shape resembles an elm. The fruit is spherical and 15 to 20 centimetres (6 to 8 inches) in diameter. It has a hard external husk, or shell, covered with coarse spines, and contains five oval compartments, each filled with a cream-coloured, custard-like pulp, in which are embedded from one to five chestnut-sized seeds. The pulp is edible, and the seeds may be eaten if roasted. The ripe fruits are eaten by many animals. Although the durian has a mild, sweet flavour, it also has a pungent odour, which has been compared to that of Limburger cheese. It is seldom exported.