Durian
Family Bombacaceae
Durio zibethinus, the durian (D. zibethinus 2), is a tree native to the Malaysian region producing the durian fruit, which is famous in the Far East. The durian is a big tree, up to 30 m tall (D. zibethinus 1), with oblong leaves and large white or pink flowers borne on the old wood (cauliflorous) with numerous stamens. The flowers are bat-pollinated. The fruit (D. zibethinus 2) is a large capsule, yellow when ripe, up to 4 kg in weight, covered with spines and containing a creamy pulp with large seeds. The pulp, which is the part eaten, is made of the arils surrounding the seeds. It produces a stench resembling overripe cheese and a bad drain. However, the taste of it is sweet and aromatic.
Use
In the Indo-Malaysian region the durian is highly appreciated (D. zibethinus 3), and is sold in large numbers on local markets. Outside that region the fruit never attained popularity.