Durio kutejensis

Durio kutejensis, commonly known as durian pulu, durian merah, nyekak, pakan, kuluk, or lai, is a primary rainforest substorey fruit tree from Borneo.

Description

A tree. It grows up to 24 m high. The trunk is 40 cm across. The leaves are alternate and simple. They are silvery on the lower surface. The flowers are 7 cm across. They are pink to red. The fruit are oval and orange-yellow. They are 20 cm long by 12 cm wide. The fruit are covered with slightly curved soft spines 1-1.5 cm long. The seed are narrowly oval and 4 cm long. They are a shiny brown. The fleshy yellow seed coat or aril is edible.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The thick-textured, yellowish-orange flesh has a distinctive flavour that is sweetish but less sweet and less strong than that of the common durian (D. Zibethinus). The fruit only has a slight aroma when fully ripe. The dirty-yellow coloured ovoid to ellipsoid fruit is up to 20 cm x 12 cm, covered with slightly curved soft spines 1 - 1.5 cm long It contains a number of glossy-brown, ellipsoid seeds up to 4 cm long that are completely enclosed by a fleshy, yellow, sweet-smelling, edible aril.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in the foothills of Kalimantan. It grows up to 800 m above sea level. In Cairns Botanical Garden.

Where It Grows

Mixed dipterocarp forest in the foothills of the mountains. Occurs locally on fertile clay-rich soils on undulating land in mixed dipterocarp forest.

Cultivation

A tree of medium elevations in the moist tropics, found at elevations up to 1,300 metres. Trees are usually found on clay-rich soils in the wild. The flowers are produced on older branches. Trees can commence fruiting when 4 - 5 metres tall.

Other Uses

The heartwood is reddish-brown. The relatively durable wood is used in interior construction and for making cheaper types of furniture and packing cases. We do not have any more information on the wood of this species. However, a general description of the wood for species in this genus is as follows:- The heartwood is pink-brown, red, or deep red-brown; it is not always sharply demarcated from the white, pale yellow-brown or light reddish-yellow sapwood. The texture is coarse; the grain straight to interlocked; somewhat lustrous; it is reported to have a foetid odour. The wood is not durable, and not resistant to termite attack; the sapwood is prone to powder-post beetle attack. It dries rapidly, but thin boards may tend to cup. The wood saws easily and generally dresses smoothly; nailing qualities are good. It is used for purposes such as furniture components, veneer and plywood, light construction.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Dian bala, Durian isu, Durian kuning, Durian nyekak, Durian tinggang, Kawai, Laai, Lai, Layuk, Lembunyu, Luas, Nyekak, Paku, Pekawai, Pohon durian lai, Rian isu, Rian nyekak, Ruas, Sekawi

References (24)

• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 68
• Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1322 (As Lahia kutejensis)
• Chai, P. P. K. (Ed), et al, 2000, A checklist of Flora, Fauna, Food and Medicinal Plants. Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarawak. Forestry Malaysia & ITTO. p 166
• Coronel, R.E., 1982, Fruit Collections in the Philippines. IBPGR Newsletter p 9
• Dodo, 2015, Keanekaragaman dan konservasi Tumbuhan Buah Langka Indonesia. Pusat Konservasi Tumbuhan Kebun Raya – LIPI. Warta Kebun Raya 13(2)

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