There's Some Truth To This Viral FB Post Claiming Durian As Singapore's National Fruit
There is a caveat though.
By Sadho Ram — 23 Aug 2024, 02:14 PM
Recently, a Singapore-based Facebook page called ASEAN Skyline stirred up quite a storm by sharing a poster about national fruits
Among the fruits listed, durian — which is considered as the "King of Fruits" in Malaysia — was mentioned as the national fruit of Singapore, along with Indonesia.
The post, uploaded on 17 August, quickly attracted the attention of Malaysian netizens, many of whom responded with a mix of humour and indignation over the idea of Singapore laying claim to durian.
Malaysians, known for their love of the thorny fruit, were quick to question the accuracy of the poster. Some jokingly suggested that the durians must grow on Singapore's rooftops.
One user quipped, "Singapore grows durian under the sea."
While the idea of durian as Singapore's national fruit may seem laughable to Malaysians, it turns out that there is some truth behind the claim
What many of the commenters missed is the fact that Singapore does have a durian species named after the country: Durio singaporensis, commonly known as the Singapore Durian.
According to the National Parks Board (NParks) of Singapore, the Durio singaporensis is a species of wild durian that grows in both Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. This large forest tree can reach heights of up to 40m.
However, unlike the durians grown in Malaysia and Indonesia that are prized for their creamy, pungent flesh, the Singapore Durian is classified as "inedible." Its small fruit, measuring just 10cm in size, lacks the fleshy seeds that make other durian varieties a beloved treat across Southeast Asia.
While inedible, the Singapore Durian plays an important role in the local ecosystem.
Its flowers rely on bat pollination, and its seeds are dispersed by animals such as hornbills and macaques. Found only in specific areas like the Nee Soon Swamp Forest, Upper Seletar, and the MacRitchie Reservoirs, this rare durian species is an integral part of Singapore's natural heritage.
In terms of appearance, the spikes of the Durio singaporensis resemble the rambutan more than the thick, thorny exteriors of commercially popular durians, and the fruit is much smaller in size
Its brown seeds are bare, lacking the luscious flesh that durian lovers crave.
