Litchi chinensis
Also known as fruta del dragon, lychee, litchi
Lychee ( , ; Litchi chinensis; ) is a monotypic taxon and the sole member in the genus Litchi in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. The fruit is edible and has a sweet, mildly tart flavor and a distinctive floral aroma often described as rose-like.
AI overview
The lychee (Litchi chinensis) is a tropical fruit tree that is the only species in its genus within the soapberry family. The fruit is prized for eating because of its sweet and mildly tart taste, along with a distinctive floral aroma that many people compare to roses.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
SPECIES
- KingdomPlantae
- PhylumTracheophyta
- ClassMagnoliopsida
- OrderSapindales
- FamilySapindaceae
Native toAssam, Borneo, China Southeast, Hainan, Jawa, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
Common Name: lychee
via GBIF · Kew POWO
Key facts
- Chinese.c
- 荔枝
- Chinese.p
- Lìzhī
- Chinese.w
- Li4-chih1
- Chinese.gr
- Lihjy
Article
17 sectionsContents
- Taxonomy
- Description
- Tree
- Fruit
- Flavor and aroma
- History
- Double domestication
- Cultivation and uses
- Cultivars
- Nutrients
- Phytochemicals
- Poisoning
- Gallery
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Lychee ( , ; Litchi chinensis; ) is a monotypic taxon and the sole member in the genus Litchi in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. The fruit is edible and has a sweet, mildly tart flavor and a distinctive floral aroma often described as rose-like.
There are three distinct subspecies of lychee. The most common is the Indochinese lychee found in South China, Malaysia, and northern Vietnam. The other two are the Philippine lychee (locally called alupag or matamata) found only in the Philippines and the Javanese lychee cultivated in Indonesia and Malaysia. The tree has been introduced throughout Southeast Asia and South Asia. Cultivation in China is documented from the 11th century. China is the main producer of lychees, followed by India, Vietnam, other countries in Southeast Asia, other countries in South Asia, Madagascar, and South Africa. A tall evergreen tree, it bears small fleshy sweet fruits. The outside of the fruit is a pink-red, rough-textured soft shell.