DURIAN OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 159 



(jucrcina grows on decaying stumps of trees, often attaining a 

 large size. 



Dulse (EJiodomenia pcdmata), a sea plant of the family 

 Ceramiaceae, growing abundantly on the rocky shores of this 

 country, and also in Ireland, being found at the lowest ebb of 

 the tide. It has divided fronds about 6 inches in length, of a 

 red colour, and is eaten in a raw state as a salad, and considered 

 extremely beneficial in scrofulous complaints, its efficacy being 

 no doubt due to the iodine it contains. 



Dumbcane {Dieffeiibadiia seguina), a plant of the Arum 

 family (Aroideae), native of the West Indies, having a fleshy 

 cane-like stem, 1 J inches in diameter, and from 4 to 6 feet high. 

 Its leaves are oblong elliptical. It is highly acrid and poisonous. 

 If a portion be chewed in the mouth it causes the tongue to 

 swell and loss of speech for some time ; hence the name Dumb- 

 cane. 



Durian (JDurio zibethmus), a tree of the family Stercu- 

 liaceae, native of the Indian and Malayan Archipelagoes, a 

 large forest tree attaining a height of 70 or 80 feet, in general 

 appearance resembling the elm. The leaves are simple, oblong 

 elliptical, acuminate. The flowers are of a pale yellow colour, 

 produced on the main stem and larger branches. The fruit 

 is a five - valved capsule of globose or oval form, about 10 

 inches long by 7 wide. The rind is thick and hard, covered 

 with strong prickles. It is five - celled, each cell containing 

 four or five seeds, wdiich are as large as pigeons' eggs, and 

 are embedded in a cream-coloured pulp, which is extremely 

 luscious and enticing to eat, having the taste of a rich cus- 

 tard, flavoured with almonds; but the flavour varies, some- 

 times being like cream cheese, sherry wine, onion sauce, and 

 other flavours. It is the general opinion that there is no other 

 fruit either of tropical or temperate climes that combines in 

 itself such a delicious flavour with such an abominably offensive 

 odour, an odour that may be compared to putrid animal matter, 

 or rotten onions. This makes the fruit very repugnant to 

 Europeans ; but when once this repugnance is overcome, the 



