Rambutan

Rambutan ( Nephelium lappaceum ), fruit (with shell and shelled )

Rambutan ( Nephelium lappaceum ) is a species within the family of Soapberry ( Sapindaceae ). This tropical plant is related to the lychee ( Litchi chinensis). The trivial name rambutan is derived from the Malay word rambut, which means " hair " and refers to the densely populated with bristles fruit.

Description

Rambutan grows as a evergreen tree, reaching heights of growth 7-10 meters, in culture only 3 to 5 meters. He is of upright habit. The alternate standing leaves are pinnate and composed of one to four pairs of leaflets. The elliptically shaped, leathery leaves are dull yellowish- green to dark green, reddish tinge in the bud.

The plant flowers and bears twice a year; the 2.5 to 5 mm in size, sweet-scented flowers are in erect terminal, 30 -inch-long panicles, the fruit matures 15-18 weeks after flowering. The approximately 5 centimeters rounded - oval fruit hanging loosely from 10 to 20 in a panicle. They are surrounded by a pink to bright red, leathery, densely occupied with greenish- yellow bristles, which protects the sweet and aromatic tasting, milky white, jelly -like pulp. The almond- like seeds stuck on flesh. The load-bearing tree can form at the height of his power up to 6,000 fruits with a total weight of approximately 70 kilograms.

Varieties and varieties

From Nephelium lappaceum are four varieties:

• Nephelium lappaceum var lappaceum
• Nephelium lappaceum var pallens
• Nephelium lappaceum var xanthioides
• Nephelium lappaceum var Babusch

Furthermore, there are well over 200 cultivated varieties.

Dissemination

The Rambutan is originally widely used in Southeast Asia. As a cultivated plant he found in the tropics 15 ° along the equator in Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Ecuador and Vietnam, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, and increasingly in parts of Australia and Hawaii. The largest producer, however, is Thailand. The original homeland of the tree is unknown, is suspected in the Malay Archipelago. As a tropical plant it requires temperatures above 10 ° C as well as humic and nutrient-rich, well- drained soils.

Propagation

The Rambutan replicate for the large hazel seeds in the fruit, but is usually grown in culture from cuttings. The plant is either male or hermaphrodite and not self-pollinating. Rambutan is an important nectar source in Malaysia for bees, at the same time represent the main pollinators; other pollinators are butterflies and flies.

Use

Fruit

The fruit is a particularly in Asia widely appreciated foodstuff. It is eaten both raw and cooked differently. For canned goods, the seed is sometimes replaced with a piece of pineapple.

Seed

The seeds of the plant, the fats and oils - mainly oleic acid and arachidic acid - containing, find use in the manufacture of edible oils and soaps.

Others

The roots, the bark and the leaves of rambutan are needed varied as a medicinal herb in Asian folk medicine, but are also used as dye use.