It is found growing throughout most of the islands of the Indian Archipelago; and, like the mangosteen, does not thrive well in any other part of the world.

This is perhaps the reason its fruit is so little known elsewhere, as when ripe it will not bear transportation to a great distance.

The fruit is nearly globe-shaped, though a little oval, and in size equals the largest cocoa-nut.
As the reader already knows, it is of a green colour, and covered with short stout spines, very sharp-pointed, whose bases touch each other, and are consequently somewhat hexagonal in shape.

With this _chevaux-de-frise_ it is so completely armed, that when the stalk is broken close off it is impossible to take up the fruit without having one's fingers badly pricked.

The outer rind is so tough and strong, that no matter from what height the fruit fall it is never crushed or broken.