Saturday, November 29, 2008

Langsat or duku





Langsat is native to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Although it is planted sporadically throughout the tropics, commercial production is mostly in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Lansium domesticum is a highly variable species, with different forms that have been classified by some taxonomists as distinct species. There are five basic varieties, but there may be intermediate forms with overlapping characteristics:
Langsat - Slender tree with open crown, fruits in clusters of 6-40. Ovoid fruit about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, thin peel containing latex, sour to sweet. Contains 1-3 green, bitter seeds. Adapted to climates with distinct seasons. Cultivars include 'Conception' and 'Paete' (Philippines), 'Uttaradit' (Thailand), and 'LA8' and 'LA9' (Malaysia). 'Casto' is a selection from Puerto Rico with a large fruit, low latex, and high yields.
Duku - A vigorous, spreading, symmetrical tree with dense foliage, fruit in clusters of 4-12. Fruits are spheroid, 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in diameter, with a thick peel, little to no latex, and a sweet, aromatic pulp. The seed is ellipsoid in shape. Adapted to tropical conditions. 'Du 1' is a Malaysian variety
Duku Langsat - Has characteristics intermediate to langsat and duku. Fruit in clusters of 5-25, ovoid shape, sweet and aromatic, thick peel. Varieties include 'DL1' and 'DL2' from Malaysia.
Longkong (dokong) - From Thailand, fruit spheroid, about 1.5 inches (4 cm) in diameter, thick peel with no latex, soft, sweet, aromatic pulp, and seedless or with very few seeds.
Kokosan - From Indonesia, with hairy leaves and compact fruit clusters. Fruits dark yellow, with sour pulp and large seeds.

There are about 15 species in the genus Lansium. Lansium membranaceum, from Indonesia, has an edible but sour fruit up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long.





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