Lychee (Litchi chinensis)
Lychee (Litchi chinensis) is the sole species of tropical and subtropical fruit-bearing tree in genus Litchi, in the soapberry family Sapindaceae. It is native to China, and has since been cultivated in many countries around the world. It is also known as leechi, litchi, laichi, lichu, lizhi. Litchi chinensis subsp. chinensis is the only commercialized lychee, growing wild in southern China, northern Vietnam, and Cambodia. Lychee tree is an evergreen and long-lived tree, growing 10-15 m tall. It has short stocky trunk, and broad crown. The bark is gray-black, and crooked and twisted brownish-red branches. The leaves are 10-25 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, alternate, compound, with 2-5 pairs of oblong-lanceolate leaflets, and 3-8 cm long petioles. The leaves are leathery, deep green above and glaucous below. The fragrant flowers are small, yellow-white, borne on terminal inflorescence which consists of 10 or more clustered panicles, 10-40 cm long. The fruits mature 80-112 days after pollination, depending on cultivar, location and climate. The fleshy and edible fruits are round, ovoid or heart-shaped, 3-5 cm long and 4 cm wide, red or pinkish red in color, with smooth skin or covered with small sharp protruberance of about 2 mm thick. The red rind turns dark brown when the fruit is refrigerated, but the taste is not affected. The rind can be easily removed to expose the white, sweet, and juicy flesh. The juicy flesh is an aril, surrounding an inedible dark-brown seed, 1-3.3 cm long, and 0.6-1.2 cm side. Some cultivars produce fruits with shriveled aborted seeds, known as 'chicken tongues'. These lychees fetch a higher price in the market due to having more edible flesh. Lychee is usually eaten fresh, and also added to many desserts. It is popular in China Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Lychee is also available in canned form. Lychees are high in vitamin C, polyphenols, and low in saturated fat, sodium, and are cholesterol free.  Lychee (Litchi chinensis) Author: Thaumaturgist (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported) | ||
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