.U Button Mangosteen Garcinia Prainiana CERAPU

44 Calamondin Citrus Mitis KIM KIAT

46 Cashew Anacardium Occidentale GA]US

50 Cat's Eye Nephe/ium :vta/accensis MATA KUCI.VG

52 Cayanne Cherry Eugenia Uniflora CERAMAI BEIANDA

54 Cempedak Artocarpus Chempedan

Bog Plum spondias Cytherea KEDONDONG

84 jackfruit Arlocarpus Heterophy llus NANGKA

90 jamun Eugenia Cumini ]AMBULANA

92 Kabong Arenga Pinna/a

94 Kasai Pometia Pinnata

98 Kumquat Fortunella Polyandra L!/v!AU PAGAR

100 Kundang Bouea Marcrophylla

102 Lansium Domesticum DUKU, LANGSAT AND DUKU LANGSAT

106 Lemon Citrus Limpn LIMAULEMON

110 Lime Citrus Aurantifolia LL\1AL' NIPIS

to

·. 112 Lotus Nelumbium Speciosum SERO]A

114 Malacca Fruit Emblica Officina/is BUAHMEIAKA

116 Malay Apple Eugenia Ma/accensis ]AMBUBOL

118 Mandarin Citms Retiw /ata LJMAU I.ANGKAT

120 Mango Jfangifera I ndica .HASGGA

124 Mangifera Caesia BIN] A!

125 Mangifera Foetida BACANG

~ 126 Mangifera Lagenifera LAN]UT

127 Mangifera Odorata KUJNI

128 Mangosteen Garcinia ,\-fangostana MASGGIS

134 Morinda Jforillda Citrifolia JfESKUDU

136 Musk Lime Citms Microcarpa LIMA U KAS7VRI

138 Nip a Palm Nipa Fmticans NIPAH

140 Nutmeg Myristica Fragrans BUAHPALA

142 Otaheite Gooseberry Phyllanlhus Acidus CERMAI

144 Palinyra ...... Borassus FkJ""'MI LONI'AR

154 Passion Fruit . Pa!):;ijlora Edulis .HARK/SA (KUNING)

158 Persimmon Diospyros Kaki PISANGKA.Kl

160 Pineapple Ananas Comosus NAN AS

168 Pomegranate Punica Granatum DELL 'viA

~ 174 Pomelo "~ Citms Gra11dis

LIMAL' BESAR

178 Ponkan Citms Reticu/ata LIMAU PONKAN

182 Pulasan Nephelium Mutabile

184 Rambai Baccaurea Mot/eyana BUAHRAMBA!

186 Rambutan Nephe/ium Lappaceum

190 Rock Melon Cucumis Melo MELON WANG/

206 Starfruit Auerrhoa Carambo/a BELJJ!BISG MANIS

212 Sugar Apple Annona Squamosa NONA SRI KAYA

214 Tamarind Tamarindus I ndica ASAM] AWA

216 Tampoi Baccaurea Griffithii

218 Water Apple Eugenia Aquea ]AMBU A!R

222 Watermelon Citrullus Vulgaris TEMBIKA/

226 West Jnclla n Cherry MUii118ia Calabum BUAHCERJ

Dorian Durio Zibethinus

Du.rlan buds

Durlan flowers and frnit A durian tree with frnits

The durian known as the " king of fruits" is native to Malaysia and Indonesia . It derived

its name from the Malay word "duri" which means "thorn". The fruit is stalked,

pendulous, round to oblong in shape and is completely covered with strong, sharp

thorns. The average durian is about 20 em wide, has a hard outer shell and weighs about

4 kg. It is a capsule which splits into 5 parts when ripe. When the ripe fruit is opened, it

consists of a number of arched chambers containing between 4 to 6 brown seeds,

covered with a thick, firm , creamy, yellow edible pulp with a strong aroma which may be

overpowering to many people.

PAG£64 A ripedurianfrnit

A ripe durian

Dun·an dodo/

Durian lempok

C OMPOSITION

Component Per 100 grams edible portion

Food energy 153.0 calo ries Moisture 64.1 g Protein 2.7 g Fats 3.4 g Carbohydrates 27.9 g Minerals 103.9 g Beta-carotene 140.0 118 Vitamin 81 0.10 mg Vitamin 8 2 0.13 mg Vitamin C 23.30 mg

Source: utrient composit ion of

Malaysian Foods. IMR, 1982

PAG£66

A si an P acf f ic P a n o r a m a

A seedling durian tree can grow to a height of 40 metres and a grafted one, 15 to 20 metres. The tree has a slender trunk with many thick branches.The leaves are bronze to olive-green, pointed and elliptical in shape. Flowers are 5 to 7 em wide, white in colour and are arranged in bunches. They are pollinated by bats and bees. A grafted durian tree takes about 5 to 7 years to fruit The fruits ripen on the tree and are gathered after they have fallen to the gtound. The area under durian cultivation is estimated to be 30,000 hectares. Singapore is a major market for Malaysian durians although the fruits are also exported to Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The smell and flavour of this famous fruit has evoked so many controversial opinions. Many contradictory descriptions have been written about it, of which a few are worthy of mention.

"Pu lp of fou l smell but fine flavour". (Chambers English Dictionary)

"Luscious, civet-smelling, cream-coloured pulp" (Oxford Illustrated Dictionary)

"The bad-smelling but edible fruit"'. (The World Book Dictionary) "Garlic, fruity, rancid, pungent and sooty". (Stanton and Howard

1969) "Odour that can be compared only to a mixture of old cheese and

onions flavoured with turpentine". (O.W. Barrett) "Smell may be compared to that emanating from rotten onions and

putrid animal matter" (Eminent Malayan Botanist) "Taste like heaven but smells like hell". However the re are also many who are favourably dis posed

towards the durian. aturalist Russel Wallace had these to say: "Its consistence and flavour are indescribeable. A rich butter-like

custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but intermingled with it come wafts of flavour that call to mind crea mcheese , onio n , sau ce , brown sh erry , and othe r incongruities .. rich ... glutinous .. . perfect ... a new sensation , worth a voyage to the East to experience".

"To get inside her and savour her flesh, is not without risk due to her prickly armour. Once you taste he r flesh , you ' ll love he r passionately. "

A limerick that appeared in the Hortscience 9, 1973 on the durian is as follows;

"The durian - neither Wallace nor Darwin agreed on it. Darwin said, 'May your worst enemies be forced to feed on it'. Wallace cried, 'It's delicious' Darwin replied, 'I am suspicious. ' "For the flavour is scented like papaya fermented , after a fruit

eating bat has pee'd on it' Darwin never saw or smelt a durian." The best durians are very expensive. Many farmers build huts in

durian orchards and wait all night for the delicious durian to fa ll. It is one of the few fruits that are jealously guarded and kept under strict surveillance as they ripen. A large portion of the fruit produced is eaten fresh or raw. Durians are also used to flavour ice-cream, cake and jam. The pulp can be preserved to make "tempoyak" or mixed with sugar to make "lempok". Both are popular Malay preparations. The unripe fruit can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The seeds can be eaten boiled or roasted. Today, durians are not only sold in the streets and five-foot w ays but also as fro zen packages in supermarke ts . Durians can be stored as frozen packages fo r 2 months.

A durian with light pink pulp

7bomless durians

The Exotic Fruits of M a l aysia

There are more than 500 species of durians growing in Malaysia, of which only 150 are registered with the Department of Agriculture. The most interesting feature about the durian is the colour of its pulp which varies from white to yellow, golden, light-pink and red. The pink and red pulp varieties are native to Sabah, Malaysia. They are not commercially planted. Many remember the durian as being exotic and thorny but there are varieties which are thornless. In choosing a durian one must select a light fruit with a slightly pungent aroma. A light fruit will indicate a higher flesh­seed ratio. The aroma will show that the fruit is ripe.

The Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute has after 23 years of research produced the first hybrid clones in the world . They are known as MDUR 78 and MDUR 79. Both clones bear fruits after 6 years and the average yield per tree is 99 and 61 fruits respectively. Some of the popular clones grown in Malaysia are briefly described here.

PAG£ 67

Durian Merab, dark pink variety

Durian Merab, reddish-pink variety

PAG£68

A s ian Pacifi c P ano rama

Durian graveoleus Red durians Durian Merab

7be red durians are natll>e to Sabab . 7be tree reaches to a height of 30 to 40 metres. 7be rind of the fntit is green, ;>ellou• or golden yellou•. 7befruit is small and its spines are sharp. The colour of its pulp varies from orange to pink to red. It lacks flavour and smell. It tastes more like an avocado fruit. 7be ripe fruit does not fall to the ground. It splits open on the branches and the red pulps fall to the ground. 7be natives love tbisfntit and eat it pickled u•itb salt.

Th e E x oti c Fruit s o f M a l aysia

Durio dulcis

It is also known as Durian Tahis or Durian Bangking and is native to Sa bah. A full grown tree has a height of 35 metres. 7be rind of the fruit is bright maroon red in colour and very spiny. 7be ripe fruit is small and has a very pungent aroma. 7be pulp is pale yellow, emits a strong scent and has a peppermint flavour. The seeds are black and the fruit is loved dearly by the natives.

Durio oxleyanus

Known as 'duria n sukang ', it is considered as one of the best wild durians in Sa bah . It is easily recognised by its soft, hairy leaves and is valued in and near villages as a fruit tree. 7be fruits are small, round and green in colour. 7be flesh is pale yellow, creamy and sweet. There are some trees that bear fruits with exceptionally good quality that can rival even the ordinary 'durian puteh '.

Durio testudina rum

It is also known as Durian Kura-kura. It is a small tree, with distinct leaves and long accuminate tips. It flowers and fruits mainly at the base of the tree, on the tnmk and sometimes on the branches. The fruits are small, distinctly lobed and bronze to yellow when ripe. The aril has a rather watery texture and unpleasant odour. It does not taste like a dun·an at all and as such is dismissed locally as a fntit . However, to most Caucasians the texture and taste is that of caramel custard.

PAGE 69

D2 variety

The D2 va riety originated f rom Me/aka and is popularly known as "Data' Nina " durian. The tree is of medium height, flowers often and the fruit yield is low. 7be ripe fruit is oval­shaped, weighs between 1.3 to 1.8 kg, has thick skin, fine thorns and a few small seeds. 7be fru it has a slight slant as shown in the picture. The pulp is sweet, copper-yellow, thick and rough textured. The quality of the fruit is good.

DJO variety

The D10 va riety originated f rom Gombak, Se/a ngor. The t ree is of medium height and the yield is high. The ripe fruit is oval-shaped, weighs between 1. 0 to 1. 7 kg, yellowish-green and the skin is of medium -thickness. 7be pulp is tumeric-yellow, thick and sweet. The fruit has numerous seeds arranged in a row. The ripe fruit is easy to crack open. 7be quality of the ripe fruit is good.

D24 variety

7be D24 variety originated from Bukit Merah, Perak. The tree is rather large, has dense foliage . They flower and fruits often. The yield is high and a tree can produce more than 100 fruits per season . The ripe fruit weighs between 1.0 to 1.8 kg, is oval-shaped and has thick light-green skin. The pulp is light-yellow, thick, fine ­textured and is sweet . Each compartment of the fruit contains 1 to 4 big seeds. The quality of the fruit is very good.

PAGE 70

Asian Pac i fic Panoram a

The Exoti c Fruit s of M a la ysia

D99 variety

The D99 variety orig inated from Thailand . Tbe tree is rather small, it fruits often and sometimes out of season . The yield is high and some trees can bear more than 130 fruits. Tbe ripe fruit is small, nearly round and weighs between 1.0 to 1.5 kg.Tbe pulp is sweet, tasty, tumeric-yellow, thick and fine -textured . Each compartment of the fruit contains 4 to 6 seeds. Tbe quality of the fruit is very good.

D123 variety

The D 7 23 variety is also known as Chanee and originated from Thailand. The tree is rather big and can withstand drought. It fruits often . Tbe fruit is" big, weighing 1.8 to 2.5 kg, oval-shaped, slightly compressed and is yellowish-green . The pulp is thick, light-yellow, sweet and coarse­textured. Each compartment contains 1 to 4 medium large seeds. The quality ofthefruit is fairly good.

D145 variety

Tbe D145 variety popularly known as the "Green Durian " orig inated from Beserah, Pahang . Th e tree is of medium height and can withstand drought. The yield is medium. The ripe fruit is oval-shaped and weighs 13 to 7.5 kg . The skin is of medium thickness and green in colour. The pulp is not very thick, reddish-yellow, fine-tex tured, sweet and tasty . The quality of the fruit is excellent.

PAGE 71

Dl63 va riety

The D163 variety originated from Penang and is popularly known as Horlor. 7be tree is of medium height and an average ripe fruit weighs about 2 kg 7be oval-shaped fmit bas thick skin and numerous seeds. The pulp is a little fibrous, has rich golden colour and is not so sweet. 7be quality ofthefntit isfairlygood.

DJ64 variety

7bis variety originated from Penang and is popularly known as Ang bak or lsi merah (red flesh). 7be fntit is oval­shaped. weighs about 2 kg, has numerous seeds and medium thick skin. 7be pulp of the ripe fntit has a very pungent aroma, thick reddish­orange flesh and wine-like flavour. 7be quality of this fmit is good.

DJ66 variety

7bis variety originated from Penang and is popularly known as Ang hae or Udang merah (red prawn). The mother plant which is in Penang is more than 60 years old. 7be weight of the ripe fmit is between 1.5 to 2 kg. 7be pulp is reddish-gold, creamy and sweet. A good fruit fetches between S 15 to $20 a kilo. 7be quality of the Jntit is good.

PAGE 72 /

Asian Pacific Panorama

The Exotic Fruit s of Malaysia

Dl68 variety

D168 clone or "Mas Muar" durian originated from Muar, johore. 7be tree is of medium height, often-fruiting and fruit yield per tree is rather high. 7be ripe fruit weighs between 1.4 to 1.6 kg each and is round in shape. The skin is brownish-green and the fruit has a short stalk. 7be fruit can be easily opened. 7be pulp is thick, sweet, reddish-yellow and tasty. Each compartment of the fruit contains up to 4 medium-sized seeds. 7be quality of this fruit is good.

MDUR 78 (DJO x D24) variety

The MDUR 78 va riety is a c ross between the D24 and DIO clones. 7be tree is small, full of leaves and heavy fruiting. 7be ripe fruit weighs between 1.5 to 1.8 kg, is oval-shaped and greenish -yellow. 7be pulp is reddish­yellow, thick, fine-textured and sweet. 7be seeds are big. 7be quality of this fnt it is excellent.

MDUR 79 (D24 x DIO) variety

The MDUR 79 variety is a cross between the D24 and D10 clones. 7be tree is small and the yield is average. 7be ripe fruit weighs between 1.0 to 1.6 kg, is oval-shaped and dark-green. 7be pulp is reddish-yellow, thick, fine­textured and very sweet. 7be seeds are big and the ripe fru it opens easily. 7be quality of this frnit is excellent.

/ .. ..

/

PAGE 73

Fig Ficus Roxburghii

ARA

Cut-open fig showing flower and ostio/e

The fig tree belongs to the genus Ficus, family Moraceae which includes more than 600

species growing in many tropical regions of the world as climbers, creepers, epiphytes or

as trees. The famous banyan tree (Ficus bengalensis) and the auspicious bodhi or pipal tree (Ficus religiosa) belong to the Ficus species. The popular edible Mediterranean fig

(Ficus carica) is native to Palestine, Asia Minor and Persia. It has been in existence since

the Stone Age and was cultivated by the ancient Hebrews, Greeks and Romans for its

delicious fruits. It is not adaptable to the Malaysian climate and thus not grown here.

PAG"r." ~,

/

The Exotic F ruit s of Malaysia

T he fig that is grown in Malaysia for its edible fruits is Ficus Roxburghii. It is a deciduous tree of West Asian origin and grows well in Malaysian soils. The tree grows to a height of 6 to 8 metres , has a short trunk and thick-spreading branches which develop into a dome-shaped crown. The tree and fruits produce a sticky milky juice. The leaves are alternate, simple, thick , large and dark green. The young leaves are bronze-green with a tinge of pink. The fruits are hollow and the flowers are produced inside the walls of the fleshy fruit. Three types of flowers are produced. They are the male flowers which produce the pollen, the female flowers that develop the seeds and the gall flowers which are sterile female flower that harbour little wasps. The flowers are pollinated by these wasps. At the end of the fruit , oppo ire the stalk is a small opening called the ostiole which is covered with many interlocking and overlapping scales. This is the exit and entrance for the wa p to fly to other fruits to pollinate the female fl owers and lay eggs in the gall flowers to start a new generation of wa ps. The fruits are 5 to 8 em long, hollow, pear­shaped and have a velvet-like skin.

The unripe fruits are green and the ripe fruits are brown or reddish-brown. The flesh of the ripe fruit is pinkish-white and its flavour varies from sweet to tasteless. The fruits are eaten fresh or made into preserve . The tree is easily propagated from cuttings and bears fruit in the third year after planting. The fig tree can produce 3 crops a year and fruits abundantly. Fig leaves

Youngfigfm its Mature and youngfigfmits

PAGE 75

Unusual Fruits

Artocarpus a11isophyllus (Terap Ikal) grows to a height of 40m. bas rowzded crown and p innate leat'es. The fmit is edible and bome tenninal(v in the shoot tips. The ripefmit is of average size. pulp is reddish-orange, fine textured and Vel)' Sll'eet.

Artocarpus odoratissimus (Terap or Mara11g) grows to a height of 25m. The tree bas many large hairy leaves. Fruits are round. greenish or g reenish-yellow to brownish and is covered with stiff spines. 77Je fruits are borne on terminal shoots. The pulp is edible, juicy, fragrant and white in colour.

PAC!:' 238

/

Artocarpus ·lanceifolius (Timakotr) grou'S to a heigh of 36m and bas elliptical-shaped, shill)', leathery leal'es. The /mit is edible, round. dull o/itl(!-brou•11. and bas ;ninute broun hairs. The pulp is bright orange, fine textured and SUI(!et.

Artocarpus elasticus ( Togop or Taltm) grou'S to a height cif 25m. The fmits are small, ellipsoid and of inferior quali(y. 7be pulp tastes like rancid butter and is tl'hite in colour.

Artocarpus rigidus (Peruput) grows to a height of 35m. Leaves are darkgrerm, elliptical and hairy on the unden,'ide. Fruits are 101111d and small with stiff spines. 7be pulp is of a nice _)l(!llow to orange in colour. SUY!!r!l u>ith a citnLS-Iikejlawur ..

.,

J

/ T h e E xo ti c F ru i t s o f M a l ays i a

Artocarpus dadah (Tampat~g) is a deciduous tree reaching a height of 35m. It is found fair~)' Lcide~) ' in Saba b. The lea1 •es vary from oht·ate to ovate-elliptic. acute or accuminate, base u.wai~J' rounded. The inflorescences are solitary in leaf-axils, ll'itb male and female beads. A fully matured female bead measures from 7 em to 12 em in diameter. sub-globose, from green or yellowish to orange­hrou•ll in colour, ll'itb deep pink flesh. The surface is smooth but some fntits are ll'ar1y or lobed. There are se1•eral fleshy ~~eeds · (indurated endocwps) Ll'bicb are edible, sour to sub­acidic in taste.

( That this book has its faults, no one can doubt, Although the Author could notfind them out.

The faults you find, good Reader, please do mend, Your comments to the Author kindly send. J

PAG/:'239