What fruit is this?

[durianwriter]

Looks like a tiny durian to me

No, really, I think it is some sort of longan. It is spiny and orange on the outside and looks and tastes very similar to a longan on the inside. I found it in the Tenom Agricultural Park in Borneo.

[fruitlovers]

Probably is some type of sapindaceae. Looks more like nephelium (rambutan) genus than dimocarpus (longan). If you took a photo of the seed and leaf that would be helpful. Does the seed look more like longan or rambutan seed?

[Doglips]

Pulasan?

[TropicalFruitHunters]

Not pulasan.  It is a bastard cross between longan and durian!     The info I found/was given looks like mata kuching, which is a cousin of longan.  At least the flesh does.  Outside lacks the sharp spines.  Could it be the sharp spines are on immature fruit then flatten out as it matures???
http://borneo2.blogspot.com/2011/11/longan-dragon-eye-mata-kucing-ihau.html

http://www.houseofannie.com/cat%E2%80%99s-eye-fruit-mata-kuching/

[thao]

Red Durian, posted about the same fruit earlier this year

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=3825.msg56764#msg56764

[Tim]

Good job, thao. 

I love it when I'm right. It happens so often but it still doesn't get old. 

[DurianLover]

We had this fruit with Red Durian in the park. Taste like water. That is why it is not propogated or known much. Please don't bother to add to your collection unless you are hard core collector.

[durianwriter]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies. You guys are the best.

It's definitely not Mata Kucing - the fruit I've shown pictures of is fully mature and ready to eat. The spines do not flatten as it matures.

It has far more similarities to longan than to rambutan. The seed and the flesh are basically the same, although it is not as sweet as longan.

Unfortunately I don't have pics of the leaf, I just found these pics in my unorganized folders and wondered what it is.

[Triloba Tracker]

That's some amazing recall, Thao!    What a cool example of the power of the forum.

Now if I can just figure out how to stowaway on one of Durianwriter's excursions. .....

[durianwriter]

Okay Found it!!

http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-94-007-5628-1_5.pdf#page-1

Was definitely this.

[thao]

Thanks guys, just the power of the search bar

[Finca La Isla]

I have that fruit, we call it spiny longan.  It's not so great.  Jim West has been after me for seeds though.
Peter

[thao]

I have that fruit, we call it spiny longan.  It's not so great.  Jim West has been after me for seeds though.
Peter

How would you rate the flavor, longan like or watery/bland like DurianLover said above?

But on a side note, the fruit looks very exotic, would be a nice plant to have just for the rarity of the plant and fruit looks. If anyone in the US, is still looking to try a small seedling, contact Richard, he offered some a while ago, he might still have some. I did inquire about them, but he told me that they are very tropical and he had tried hardening off a few of the larger seedlings, but  they never really harden off well(wilted in a few hours) and need constant humidity in a greenhouse.

The seedling list being offered by Richard:
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=6646.msg86727#msg86727

[Mike T]

Alupag, sau, isau and kakus are on some farms around here and in fact I received some alupag seeds recently from Hawaii.Spiny longans of several types are also grown and I think this could be the same thing as what is referred to as spiny longan here. It sure aint no Durio just a longan subs. and there a few of those.

[fruitlovers]

Okay Found it!!

http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-94-007-5628-1_5.pdf#page-1

Was definitely this.

Yes that's it. Interesting looking fruit. Too bad it is bland.

[Felipe]

I recieved last Winter seeds from Red Durian, but they germinated in transit and then did not survive :/