Durian refers to the edible fruit of many species of the tree genus Durio. Of the 30 species of Durio, at least 9 have fruit that may be eaten. Durio zibethinus, a species found only in Borneo and Sumatra, is the only one available for sale worldwide. There were over 300 identified species in Thailand in 1987, and another 100 in Malaysia. In such marketplaces, customers may purchase animals of various sorts. Durians are often associated with Southeast Asian cuisine, especially that of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Durian is a large, fragrant fruit with a durian cake skin that has earned it the title "king of fruits" in certain parts of the world. The largest of these fruits may measure 30 centimeters (12 inches) in length and 15 centimeters (6 inches) in diameter, and typically weigh between 1 and 3 kilograms (2 to 7 pounds). Its form may change from rectangular to round, its husk can be green or brown, and its flesh can be light yellow or red, all depending on the species.
Some people find the durian's odor to be overpowering and disagreeable, while others think it has a deliciously sweet aroma, but everyone can agree on the flavor. The aroma, which has been described as a combination of rotten onions, turpentine, and raw sewage, may generate strong feelings of both extreme admiration and intense revulsion. Certain hotels and public transportation systems in Southeast Asia banned the fruit owing to the stink it might leave behind, which can linger for days. An early 20th-century British physicist named Alfred Russel Wallace likened the meat to "a thick custard heavily scented with almonds." The flesh is versatile and used to flavor both savory and sweet dishes in Southeast Asian cuisines. You can eat the seeds, too, if you cook them.
Durio sensu lato has 30 different species. A total of 24 species fall within the purview of Durio sensu stricto. Six more species that were formerly classified under Durio s.l. are now considered by some to constitute their own genus, Boschia. Boschia and Durio s.s. are completely homologous with respect to their vegetative characteristics, and they also have many similarities in their floral characteristics. The other locules in Boschia open at the apex, but those in Durio s.s. open throughout their length. The genus Cullenia, also found in the Durioneae family, is closely related to these two species. Three separate taxa, although all part of the same clade, have radically modified anthers (mono- and polythecate as opposed to bithecate).
There is some disagreement among taxonomists as to where the genus Durio belongs; some put it in the family Bombacaceae, while others place it in the Malvaceae family, which is more tightly defined and includes the Bombacaceae. continue reading....
