Durio spp. (Durian, red burong)
Nomenclature etc. BOMBACACEAE. Durio griffithii, D. lowianus, D. oxleyanus, D. wyatt-smithii, D. zibethinus; zum Handelssortiment zählen außerdem noch Hölzer der Gattungen Coelostegia und Neesia in addition, timbers of the genera Coelostegia and Neesia are traded as 'durian'. Trade and local names: durian (MAL, RI, D); punggai, durian isa (MAL) -- Coelostegia spp.; bengang, apa-apa (MAL) -- Neesia spp. Status of protection under CITES regulations: not protected.
Tree. Geographic distribution: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indomalesia.
General. Heartwood basically brown to red. Sapwood colour distinct from heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.4–0.65 g/cm³. Sapwood often very wide, occupying up to 50% or more of total tree volume.
Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter 150–320 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 2–4. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 3–4 µm or 5–7 µm. Intervessel pits very small (3–4 µm) in Coelostegia spp., somewhat larger (5–7 µm) in Durio spp. and Neesia spp. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Helical thickenings absent. Other deposits in heartwood vessels present (reddish brown).
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres very thin-walled, or of medium wall thickness. Fibre pits common in both radial and tangential walls, simple to minutely bordered.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma banded. Axial parenchyma bands marginal (or seemingly marginal), scalariform, fine, up to three cells wide. Axial parenchyma apotracheal. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 6–9.
Rays. Rays multiseriate, also if only few, 1–4 cells wide. Rays of two distinct sizes. Rays composed of two or more cell types. Heterocellular rays square and upright cells restricted to marginal rows. Number of marginal rows of upright or square cells 1. Tile cells present.
Storied structures. Storied structure absent.
Secretory structures. Intercellular canals present, traumatic origin, axial type, in short tangential lines.
Mineral inclusions. Crystals present, prismatic, located in axial parenchyma cells. Crystal-containing axial parenchyma cells chambered, or not chambered. Number of crystals per cell or chamber one. Silica present or not observed, as grains, in axial parenchyma. Silica observed only in Durio griffithii, D. wyatt-smithii, Coelostegia griffithii.
Cite this publication as: H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz (2000 onwards). 'Commercial timbers: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval.' In English, French, German, and Spanish. Version: 4th May 2000. http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/.
Dallwitz (1980) and Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993 onwards, 1995 onwards, 1998) should also be cited (see General references).