Volume 9 > Part 1 > Year 2005 > Page 21 > Bombaceae > Durio

3. Durio lowianus Scort. ex Kingwfo-0000658077

J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 60. 2: 51. 1891; Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 1: 263; Bakh., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg S.3.6: 231. 1924; Wyatt-Smith, Kew Bull. 522. 1953; Kosterm., Reinwardtia 4 (3): 78. 1958. Fig. 7.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Semi-evergreen tree, up, to 40 m high; bark smooth or longitudinal fissured, brown; sapwood yellowish-white, heartwood brownish. Twigs slender, covered by brown scales; young buds erect. Leaves lanceolate or lanceolate-oblong, 6.5–12 by 2–4 cm; apex acute; base obtuse; margin entire; coriaceous, glabrous and shining on upper surface; densely covered by minute golden scales on lower surface; secondary veins in 10–15 pairs, hardly distinct on both surface. Petioles 1–2 cm, covered by scales. Inflorescences cymose, 5–12 flowered, on old branches; buds globose or ovoid, ca 1 cm in diam.; pedicel 1–3 cm long, all covered by yellow scales. Epicalyx ovate, with 2 concave erect lobes, ca 1.5 cm long, persistent, outer part with brown scales, inner part appressed hairs. Calyx campanulate, ca 1 cm long, with yellow scales outside, glabrous except near base inside. Petals red, pink, spathulate, reflexed, ca 2 by 1 cm, hairy outside, glabrous inside. Stamens numerous, divided into 5 groups, each group free or nearly so; anthers reniform, dehiscing by a slit. Ovary ovoid, ca 5 by 4 mm, covered by yellow scales, 5-locular, locule with 2–4 ovules; style pilose, not protruding beyond the stamens, stigma globose. Fruit ellipsoid or ovoid, 10–20 by 8–15 cm, with sharply pointed, slender spine, indehiscent. Seeds 1–4 in each valve; aril dark yellow, completely covering the seed.

Thailand : PENINSULAR: Ranong, Trang.

Distribution : Malay Peninsula (type), Indonesia.

Ecology : In lowland, tropical evergreen forests, 50–100 m alt. Flowering and fruiting: March–August.

Vernacular : Thurian don (ทุเรียนดอน), charian (ช้าเรียน), thurian nok (ทุเรียนนก), karian (กาเรียน)(Peninsular).

Uses: Aril is edible, wood is used for indoor construction.