Durian

• Grows to 40m.
• Clear bole (trunk) to 25m and 1–2m diameter.
• Rough bark varies from brown to dark red, and sheds at irregular intervals.
• Many species have low buttresses.

• Occurs throughout Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia.
• Many areas harvest the durian fruit every October/November (which, despite its offensive smell, is considered a delicacy).
• Ash of the fruit rind is used for bleaching silk.
• Small quantities are imported to Australia.

Colour

• Heartwood is pink-brown to deep, red-brown.
• Sapwood is lighter coloured and distinct in most species.

Grain

• Varies between species from straight to interlocked.
• Texture is coarse and often uneven.

• Construction: light construction, plywood.
• Decorative: furniture, joinery, panelling, veneer.
• Others: clogs.

• Density: 575–640kg/m³ at 12% moisture content; about 1.6–1.8m³ of seasoned sawn timber per tonne.
• Strength groups: S4 unseasoned, SD4 seasoned.
• Stress grades: F7, F8, F11, F14 (unseasoned); F11, F14, F17, F22 (seasoned) when visually stress-graded in accordance with AS 2082—2000: Timber—Hardwood—Visually stress-graded for structural purposes.
• Joint groups: JD4 seasoned.
• Shrinkage to 12% MC: shrinkage varies between species—Durio spp. about 4.0% (tangential) and 3.0% (radial); Neesia spp. about 2.0% (tangential) and 1.0% (radial).
• Unit shrinkage: not available.
• Durability above-ground: Class 4 (life expectancy less than 7 years).
• Durability in-ground: Class 4 (life expectancy less than 5 years).
• Lyctine susceptibility: untreated sapwood is susceptible to lyctid borer attack.
• Termite resistance: not resistant.
• Preservation: sapwood readily impregnates with preservatives.
• Seasoning: seasons rapidly but has a tendency to cup; use weights and close sticker spacings to minimise degrade.
• Hardness: firm (rated 4 on a 6-class scale) to indent and work with hand tools.
• Machining: machines well; however, turning produces a slightly rough surface.
• Fixing: nails well.
• Gluing: satisfactorily bonds using standard procedures.
• Finishing: seasoned timber readily accepts paint, stain and polish.

General characteristics

• Sapwood: white to pale pink-brown, distinct from heartwood.
• Heartwood: pink-brown to deep red-brown.
• Texture: medium to coarse.

Wood structure

• Vessels: radial multiples of 2–3, tending to oval, visible to naked eye.
• Rays: prominent on quarter.

Other features

• Texture: some species are greasy to touch.
• Odour: characteristic unpleasant odour when freshly sawn.

• Ilic, J 1991, CSIRO atlas of hardwoods, Crawford House Press, Bathurst, Australia.
• Queensland Government, DAF 2018, Construction timbers in Queensland: Properties and specifications for satisfactory performance of construction timbers in Queensland. Class 1 and Class 10 buildings, Books 1 & 2, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane.
• Standards Australia, 2000, AS 2082—2000: Timber—Hardwood—Visually stress-graded for structural purposes, Standards Australia International, Strathfield, NSW.