D. graveolens is a large tree, sharing many features with D. dulcis.
 It inhabits the upper canopy, growing up to 50 m (160 ft) tall.
 The trunk is 85–100 cm (33–39 in) in diameter and can have no branches until about 25 m (82 ft) high.
 The trunk will be smooth or flaky, grey/mauve to ruddy brown with steep buttress roots.
 The buttresses reach 3 m (9.8 ft) and extend out 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).

The oblong leaves are 10–26 cm (3.9–10.2 in) long without the petiole (leaf stalk), and 4–10 cm (1.6–3.9 in) wide.
 They are perfectly rounded on both ends, rigid, and slightly coriaceous (leather-like in feel or texture).
 On the top, they are glabrous (smooth and hairless) and crisp, almost vernicose (varnished).
 Underneath, the leaves are copper-brown and lepidote (scaly), with large scales of up to 2 mm (0.079 in) in diameter, which are not very noticeable, at least when dry.
 The leaf scales are peltate (shield-shaped), ciliate-radiated (fringed), and deeply-lobed in three to five parts.
 In addition to the scales, long strands of stellate hairs and other trichomes of varying size form a soft tomentose (fuzzy) surface.
 The leaf midrib is very prominent on the underside and forms a crease on top.
 The leaf stipules are caducous (drop early).
 Leaves have 10-12 lateral veins per side (with some smaller ones intermixed), which are tiny and superficial above and more distinct, but still barely visible.
 The petiole is very large, 15–18 mm (0.59–0.71 in) long, and tumescent (swollen) from the middle up.

Flowers grow on the branches on short cymes and a thin calyx.
 The base is sac-like with three to five connate lobes.
 It has white, spatulate (spoon-shaped) petals that are 25–35 millimetres (0.98–1.38 in) long.
 Inside are five separate bundles of staminodes and stamens, fused for less than half of their length.
 The anther has small clusters of four or five elongated pollen locules that open with longitudinal slits.
 Ovaries are ovoid to globose (roughly spherical) and possess a yellow capitate (shaped like a pinhead) stigma and white to greenish style about 48 mm (1.9 in).
 The pollen is psilate (relatively smooth), spheroidal, and 54 μm (0.0021 in) in diameter.
 The surface of the pollen includes three colporate apertures, meaning the apertures have a combined colpus (or furrow) and pore.
 The pollen grains are monad, and do not cluster.

The fruits are up to 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) in diameter, and weigh about 757.5 grams (26.72 oz).
 The greenish- to orange-yellow outside is densely covered with long (1 cm (0.39 in)) and thin angular-subulate spines which are straight or slightly curved, and prickly yet slightly soft.
 The fruit easily breaks into five fibrous-coriaceous valves (sections) with 5–6 millimetres (0.20–0.24 in) thick walls.
 Typically the fruit opens on the tree, but some varieties do not until they are on the ground or harvested.
 There are 2 bulbous or chestnut-shaped seeds per section, each completely enveloped by fleshy aril.
 These glossy brown seeds are 2 cm × 4 cm (0.79 in × 1.57 in).
 The pungent aril is the part consumed as food, though some sources note the odor is sometimes very mild.
 It ranges in color from light yellow to orange to lipstick red.
D. graveolens is a large tree, sharing many features with D. dulcis.  It inhabits the upper canopy, growing up to 50 m (160 ft) tall.  The trunk is 85–100 cm (33–39 in) in diameter and can have no branches until about 25 m (82 ft) high.  The trunk will be smooth or flaky, grey/mauve to ruddy brown with steep buttress roots.  The buttresses reach 3 m (9.8 ft) and extend out 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
The oblong leaves are 10–26 cm (3.9–10.2 in) long without the petiole (leaf stalk), and 4–10 cm (1.6–3.9 in) wide.  They are perfectly rounded on both ends, rigid, and slightly coriaceous (leather-like in feel or texture).  On the top, they are glabrous (smooth and hairless) and crisp, almost vernicose (varnished).  Underneath, the leaves are copper-brown and lepidote (scaly), with large scales of up to 2 mm (0.079 in) in diameter, which are not very noticeable, at least when dry.  The leaf scales are peltate (shield-shaped), ciliate-radiated (fringed), and deeply-lobed in three to five parts.  In addition to the scales, long strands of stellate hairs and other trichomes of varying size form a soft tomentose (fuzzy) surface.  The leaf midrib is very prominent on the underside and forms a crease on top.  The leaf stipules are caducous (drop early).  Leaves have 10-12 lateral veins per side (with some smaller ones intermixed), which are tiny and superficial above and more distinct, but still barely visible.  The petiole is very large, 15–18 mm (0.59–0.71 in) long, and tumescent (swollen) from the middle up.
Flowers grow on the branches on short cymes and a thin calyx.  The base is sac-like with three to five connate lobes.  It has white, spatulate (spoon-shaped) petals that are 25–35 millimetres (0.98–1.38 in) long.  Inside are five separate bundles of staminodes and stamens, fused for less than half of their length.  The anther has small clusters of four or five elongated pollen locules that open with longitudinal slits.  Ovaries are ovoid to globose (roughly spherical) and possess a yellow capitate (shaped like a pinhead) stigma and white to greenish style about 48 mm (1.9 in).  The pollen is psilate (relatively smooth), spheroidal, and 54 μm (0.0021 in) in diameter.  The surface of the pollen includes three colporate apertures, meaning the apertures have a combined colpus (or furrow) and pore.  The pollen grains are monad, and do not cluster.
The fruits are up to 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in) in diameter, and weigh about 757.5 grams (26.72 oz).  The greenish- to orange-yellow outside is densely covered with long (1 cm (0.39 in)) and thin angular-subulate spines which are straight or slightly curved, and prickly yet slightly soft.  The fruit easily breaks into five fibrous-coriaceous valves (sections) with 5–6 millimetres (0.20–0.24 in) thick walls.  Typically the fruit opens on the tree, but some varieties do not until they are on the ground or harvested.  There are 2 bulbous or chestnut-shaped seeds per section, each completely enveloped by fleshy aril.  These glossy brown seeds are 2 cm × 4 cm (0.79 in × 1.57 in).  The pungent aril is the part consumed as food, though some sources note the odor is sometimes very mild.  It ranges in color from light yellow to orange to lipstick red.
Durio graveolens