Lansium parasiticum and its Descriptions

Lansium parasiticum commonly known duku in Indonesian or dokong in Terengganu Malay is a tree species in the mahogany family with commercially grown edible fruits.This species is native to Southeast Asia.Despite its name, it is not parasitic; the specific epithet parasiticum derives from the fact that it can grow in the wild as an epiphyte,which was once considered a sign of parasitism.

Descriptions   

The tree is medium-sized, reaching a height of 30 m (98 ft) and a diameter of 75 cm (30 in). A 30-year-old tree sown at 8 x 8 meter spacing can reach a height of 10 meters and a diameter of 25 centimeters.The trunk grows in an irregular pattern, with buttressed roots sticking out of the ground.The bark is gray with light and dark spots. Its resin is thick and milky in color.Pinnate compound leaves are odd, with fine hairs, with 6-9 buds at intervals.The buds are long and oval, measuring approximately 9 to 21 cm (3.5 to 8.3 in) by 5 to 10 cm (2.0 to 3.9 in).The upper margins are shiny, and the leaves themselves have pointed bases and tips.The stems of the buds are 5 to 12 mm (0.20 to 0.47 in.).Flowers are in inflorescences that grow and hang from large branches or trunks; clusters of up to 5 in one place. They are usually branched at the base, measure 10 to 30 cm (3.9 to 11.8 inches), and have short hairs.Flowers are small, stems are short, bisexual.The sheath is shaped like a five-cracked cup and is yellow-green.The corona is egg-shaped and rigid, measuring 2 to 3 mm (0.079 to 0.118 in) by 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in). There is one stamen, 2 mm (0.079 in) long. The tops of the stamens are rounded. pistil short and thick.

The fruit can be oval, ovoid, or round, and measure 2 to 7 cm (0.79 to 2.76 inches) by 1.5 to 5 cm (0.59 to 1.97 inches).The fruit looks a lot like small potatoes and grows in clusters like grapes.The larger fruits belong to the variety known as duku.It is covered in sparse yellow hairs that give it a slightly fuzzy appearance.The thickness of the cuticle varies from species to species, ranging from 2 mm (0.079 in) to about 6 mm (0.24 in).When peeled, the fruit looks like peeled garlic,with half a dozen white translucent lobes, some of which contain flattened, bitter-tasting seeds.The seeds are covered with thick, clear white arils and have a sweet and sour taste.The taste has been likened to the combination of grapes and grapefruit and is considered excellent by most.The sweet, juicy pulp contains sucrose, fructose and glucose.For consumption, varieties with small or undeveloped seeds and thick arils are preferred.