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Durio zibethinus, the durian tree

on 29th November 2016

The durian tree (Durio zibethinus) is wildlife friendly.

Durian fruits
Durian fruits.

An old Durian tree (Durio zibethinus) attracts hornbills that use the rotting cavities along the trunks to nest in. The Gold-whiskered Barbet (Megalaima chrysopogon laeta) will chisel a nesting cavity in the semi-rotting branch.

During the flowering season the tree is visited by Common Fruit Bats (Cynopterus brachyotis) that seek out the flower nectar and in the process help in pollination. Spiderhunters have also been seen taking nectar or even stealing nectar from the flowers.

The ripening fruits attract plantain squirrels (Callosciurus notatus) that gnaw through the spiky fruit shell to get at the fleshy seeds. This opening allows sunbird, flowerpecker; laughingthrush, oriole, leafbird, and woodpecker to get access to the seeds inside.

When the ripe fruits drop to the ground, they split open to expose the fleshy seeds inside. This allows Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), wild pigs and even elephants access to the succulent seeds.

Durian fruit forced open to expose seeds.
Durian fruit forced open to expose seeds.

Of all the animals that are attracted to the durian tree, we must not forget Homo sapiens who relish the fruits. We consider them the king of fruits. However many Caucasians are overpowered by the powerful aroma and refer eating durians to eating custard in a toilet – an Asian squatting open air toilet, no doubt.

The yellow flesh is eaten straight from the fruits or can be scraped off the seeds and made into a variety of durian desserts, the recipes can be accessed HERE.

The large seeds are also edible after boiling, a little starchy but edible all the same.

Durian flower parts from the ground below the tree.
Durian flower parts from the ground below the tree.

Besides the fruits, the flowers are also eaten. These are collected during the flowering season when the ground below is littered with the loose flower parts – rings of sepals, petals and stamens. The petals and stamens are the edible parts, but the yellow anthers need to be removed as they may taste bitter. Stir fry with blachan (prawn paste), garlic, shallots and a dash of fish sauce and you have a delicious side dish. Alternatively, add curry powder instead of fish sauce.

A curried dish of durian flowers.
A curried dish of durian flowers.

YC Wee
Singapore
1st November 2016

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

11 Responses

  1. Unlike Rambuttan and Mangostein which are in high demand and have become very popular among farmers in Kerala State in India, the demand for Durian is less probably because of its limited availability. The only major source for Durian is from the horticulture farms maintained by the Horticulture Department of Tamil Nadu State in Kallar and Burliar in Nilgiris District. The demand for the fruit and also its saplings is now incresing in view of its reported property of treating ‘infertility’!

  2. Good to know that the fruit can be used to treat infertility! Do you know that the Indonesians and Malays believe the fruits have aphrodisiac properties? … as the saying goes “Durian jatoh, sarong naik” … meaning that when the durian falls (i.e. durian season), the sarong goes up.

  3. I recently learned that Indonesia has some “red durian”. Have you heard about this? The flesh is actually red in colour (as opposed to the usual yellow). Is this a different species of durian?

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